In a revealing new interview, Elizabeth Berkley has shared the extraordinary story of how her career survived one of Hollywood's most notorious flops to become an enduring television icon. The 53-year-old actress, best known to millions as Jessie Spano in Saved by the Bell, has opened up about the challenging period following her controversial role in the 1995 film Showgirls.
The Showgirls Backlash That Threatened Everything
Berkley's decision to take on the lead role in Paul Verhoeven's NC-17 rated drama proved to be a career-defining moment - though not in the way she'd hoped. The film was met with scathing reviews and public criticism, leaving many in the industry questioning whether the young actress could recover from the professional setback.
'It was a difficult time, there's no denying that,' Berkley admits. 'The intensity of the reaction was something nobody could have prepared me for.'
How Saved by the Bell Became Her Salvation
Remarkably, it was Berkley's earlier work as the academically-driven Jessie Spano in the hit teen series Saved by the Bell that ultimately provided her career lifeline. While Showgirls threatened to define her, audiences remembered and cherished her portrayal of the caffeine-pill addicted, socially conscious character from their favourite Saturday morning show.
'That character, that show, it never really went away,' Berkley explains. 'The love people had for Jessie and for Saved by the Bell created this protective bubble around my career that even Showgirls couldn't pop.'
Embracing Her Legacy and Moving Forward
Now, nearly three decades later, Berkley has made peace with both chapters of her career. She participated in the recent Saved by the Bell revival on Peacock, returning to the role that first made her famous and demonstrating how both experiences have shaped the woman she is today.
The actress has also founded Ask Elizabeth, a workshop programme helping young women navigate the challenges of adolescence - perhaps drawing on her own experiences of very public growing pains in the entertainment industry.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that in Hollywood, as in life, early setbacks don't have to define one's entire narrative. Sometimes, the roles we think are just stepping stones turn out to be the foundation that saves us.
