Actress Gina Gershon has spoken about the lasting psychological impact of filming a rape scene in the 1995 movie Showgirls, revealing she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, was a notorious flop upon release but has since gained a cult following.
In the scene, Gershon's character Cristal Connors is sexually assaulted by a group of men. The actress said the experience was traumatic and left her with PTSD, which she struggled with for years. 'It was really horrible,' she recalled. 'I didn't realise how much it affected me until much later.'
Showgirls, which starred Elizabeth Berkley as aspiring dancer Nomi Malone, was released with an NC-17 rating and was widely panned by critics. It grossed just $20 million in the US against a $45 million budget. However, the film has been reappraised in recent years, with some critics arguing it is a serious satire of misogyny and exploitation.
Gershon's comments come amid a broader cultural reckoning with the treatment of women in Hollywood. The actress said she hoped her story would help others who have experienced similar trauma. 'I think it's important to talk about these things,' she said. 'It's not just a movie – it's real life.'
