Elizabeth Berkley steps into her power thirty years after ‘Showgirls’

Elizabeth Berkley radiates warmth as she begins her interview even dismissing her publicist to speak freely.

“I want to have this conversation with just you,” she says, adding, thirty years after Showgirls, she’s ready to reclaim her story.

Berkley’s 1995 debut as Nomi Malone was met with ridicule and career backlash. The film bombed, her agency dropped her, and she endured relentless criticism.

“A lot of things went on that wouldn’t be allowed now someone could not be pummeled to that degree,” the Any Given Sunday star recalls. Yet she persisted, “I believed in my work and in myself deeply. I’d hoped someone would stand up for me.”

Unable to find work, Berkley refused to quit. “For a good two years, I wasn’t allowed to audition for things,” she says, adding, she trained, hustled, and eventually landed The First Wives Club show through her own initiative.

Years later, critics began checking Showgirls as a trendy classic with audiences celebrating Berkley’s bold performance.

Now, 53-year-old starring in Shell alongside Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss, and appearing in Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair.

“It’s the perfect moment to reclaim my narrative, share my story and celebrate and thank the fans in person,” she says of her Showgirls 30th anniversary tour.

Recently, the Student Seduction actress tried on a Versace dress echoing her iconic film moment. “It was like Cinderella’s slipper, she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Elizabeth Berkley smiles through tears, “I’ve had some obstacles, but I’ve never given up. And a lot of dreams have come true with a lot more to come.”