In 1995, Elizabeth Berkley left behind the regular paycheck of Saturday morning staple Saved by the Bell to star in Paul Verhoeven‘s provocative drama Showgirls. The NC-17 movie was a dramatic departure from her healthful teen sitcom picture, casting her as Nomi Malone, a fiercely formidable dancer clawing her method by the glittering however cutthroat world of Las Vegas showgirls.
Seeing the movie as an arthouse challenge with an A-list director on the helm, Berkley thought-about it the prospect of a lifetime. Sadly, Showgirls was savaged by critics upon launch, panned for its campy dialogue and over-the-top performances, and bombed on the field workplace. The backlash all however derailed her profession, turning what was meant to be her breakout second right into a cautionary story.