In 1995, Elizabeth Berkley left behind the steady paycheck of Saturday morning staple Saved by the Bell to star in Paul Verhoeven‘s provocative drama Showgirls. The NC-17 film was a dramatic departure from her wholesome teen sitcom image, casting her as Nomi Malone, a fiercely ambitious dancer clawing her way through the glittering but cutthroat world of Las Vegas showgirls.
Seeing the film as an arthouse project with an A-list director at the helm, Berkley considered it the chance of a lifetime. Unfortunately, Showgirls was savaged by critics upon release, panned for its campy dialogue and over-the-top performances, and bombed at the box office. The backlash all but derailed her career, turning what was meant to be her breakout moment into a cautionary tale.
