Elizabeth Berkley — also known as Elizabeth Berkley Lauren these days, following her 2003 marriage to Ralph Lauren’s actor nephew Greg — has revealed the good luck charm she wore to every “Showgirls” audition, and what it means to her.
Berkley played drifter-turned-exotic dancer Nomi Malone in Paul Verhoeven’s controversial 1995 erotic drama, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“Showgirls” was panned by critics at the time of its release, but it has evolved into a cult classic. Known for its maximalist and excessive nature, it launched Berkley into mature roles following her famous stint on teen sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” It remains her most iconic performance.
Elizabeth Berkley’s Good Luck Charm Was Very Fitting for ‘Showgirls’
GettySpeaking to People, Elizabeth Berkley revealed that the good luck charm that made her “Showgirls” dream into reality was a Betsey Johnson floral-print dress with a black slip underneath it (with black heels with ribbons tied around the ankles as stylish accompaniments).
Given the movie’s over-the-top style, such flamboyant attire seems appropriate to wear to audition for it. Berkley explained she wore it to the original audition and every time she was subsequently called back to audition again.
The 53-year-old said she donned the outfit for, “every subsequent callback and the final screen test throughout the Showgirls audition process.”
Berkley has been a fan of Johnson for many years and recently joined forces with her for a “magical” holiday campaign in celebration of Showgirls’ 30th anniversary. She told People that her love of the the fashion icon started when she was a teenager when she was still starring in “Saved by the Bell.”
Betsey Johnson Connected Berkley ‘To a Sense of Empowerment’
GettyBerkley reminisced, saying, “When I was 15 turning 16, and I had first moved to California. My dreams were first coming true, and I was working on Saved by the Bell.”
The actress starred opposite Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and the late Dustin Diamond in the show, playing Jessica “Jessie” Myrtle Spano from 1989 until 1993. However, she insists that her “dream” before even winning the role was “To wear as much Betsey Johnson as possible.”
She elaborated, “I was entering a really pivotal time in my life as a young teen, I was suddenly starting to feel a certain amount of independence, I was following my dreams and they were starting to become a reality, really carving out my own path, cultivating my individuality. At that young age, we were really in high school when we were on Saved by the Bell, so when I was playing a 10th grader or 11th grader, I was going through that same rite of passage. At that age, I was so drawn to wear Betsey.”
Berkley continued, “And her clothing connected me to a sense of empowerment synonymous with just all that I was going through and embracing that. So for me, in many ways, her clothes were my cape. Putting it on, I felt like a superhero in a certain way.”
One thing’s for sure: Berkley — who has recently appeared in the likes of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” and Hulu’s “All’s Fair” — still looks as fantastic today as she did when she appeared in “Showgirls.”
