From Saved by the Bell to Paris Fashion Week: Elizabeth Berkley's Remarkable Journey

The Bizarre Life and Times of Elizabeth Berkley: From Saved By The Bell Sensation to Showgirls Scapegoat

Elizabeth Berkley, the ravishing blonde beauty who stole our hearts as Jessie Spano on the iconic 90s sitcom Saved By The Bell, has led a career as varied and tumultuous as it is fascinating. With her effortless charm and stunning looks, she's managed to make headlines not just for her acting chops but also for her personal struggles and high-profile relationships.

It all began when Berkley landed the role of a lifetime on Saved By The Bell in 1989. But little did we know that this was only the beginning of her journey into the spotlight. As we all remember, Jessie Spano was a breakout character created specifically for Berkley's talents, and she took the show by storm with her witty banter and sassy attitude.

However, it was her next project that would catapult her to stardom and make her an overnight sensation: the infamous 1995 film Showgirls. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and co-written by Joe Eszterhas, this erotic thriller had all the makings of a classic – or so we thought. The script, which cost a whopping $2 million at the time (a staggering sum in those days), was sold to Polygram Pictures for an astronomical amount, but it would ultimately prove to be a costly mistake.

Showgirls was released with an NC-17 rating, which severely limited its box office potential. Critics panned the film, calling it "cheesy" and " amateurish." The backlash was swift and merciless, leaving Berkley feeling like she'd been left for dead in Hollywood's harsh landscape. In a candid interview two years ago with People magazine, she opened up about the trauma she endured during that time.

"It was disappointing that the film didn't do well, but there was so much cruelty around it," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she recalled the pain of being bullied by both the press and her peers. "I was blamed for everything. And I didn't understand why I was being blamed. The job as an actor is to fulfill the vision of the director. And I did everything I was supposed to do."

The fact that Berkley's co-stars, including Gina Gershon, failed to defend her against the media onslaught only added to the hurt and betrayal she felt. As she put it, "I was left out in the cold and I was a pariah in the industry I had worked so hard for."

Fast-forward to the present day, and Berkley has made a triumphant return to the scene with a string of high-profile projects that have cemented her status as a true Hollywood survivor. This week, she sashayed down the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week alongside her husband, Greg Lauren (son of Ralph Lauren), looking every inch the stylish starlet she is.

But it's not just about looks – Berkley has also been making waves in the acting world with roles in everything from Woody Allen's 2001 comedy The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion to the more recent HBO drama miniseries The Idol, which also stars the late Anne Heche and newcomer Lily-Rose Depp.

The latter series is a wild ride, based on a fictional account of the rise and fall of a pop star who falls for a cult-leading nightclub owner. Viewers will get to see Berkley alongside an all-star cast that includes Canadian heartthrob The Weeknd and YouTube sensation Troye Sivan.

So what's behind Berkley's enduring appeal? Is it her stunning looks, her undeniable charm, or something more complex and multi-layered? Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: Elizabeth Berkley has come out swinging in recent years, refusing to let the criticisms of Showgirls define her. As she told The Scholarly Note two years ago, "I'm proud of what I've accomplished, and I know that I have so much more to give."

With her sharp wit, fierce determination, and enviable style, Elizabeth Berkley is a true Hollywood iconoclast – a woman who has not only survived the cutthroat world of showbiz but thrived in it. Long may she reign!