Elizabeth Berkely Had No Idea How Bad ‘Showgirls’ Was Until This Happened

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.