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Elizabeth Berkley - Biography |
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Elizabeth Berkley made her mark in
the acting world in the TV division when she played Jessie on the now
famous "Saved by the Bell", and then in the Hollywood world when she made
the leap to the bigtime in the feature film "Showgirls".
Berkley had many acting classes and training for her career in her
childhood. So she was very prepared when she got the role of Jessie Spano,
a smart conservative teenage girl, on 'Saved By The Bell'. She played the
role for almost the full run of the show, and earned many fans during that
time in her career; a fact that served her well when she was to make her
big screen debut in 1995. As a child, and also later on, Berkley also took
many dancing and technique classes in addition to her acting training, so
when Paul Verhoeven offered her the lead role as an exotic dancer in
1995's 'Showgirls', a dazzling, thought-provoking expose drama about
dancing and showbiz, she happily accepted; she was very eager to show her
dancing talents, AND combine them with her already well known acting
talent as well. Of that role Berkley is very proud, saying,"I've been
preparing for this role my whole life. Like Nomi (Berkley's character in
'Showgirls'), I can't live without dance in my life."
"Showgirls" was Berkley's 1995 motion picture debut and was a very
exciting time for her since not every actress making their movie debut get
the lead role their first time out.
After "Showgirls", Berkley appeared in supporting roles in other hit
films, including Hugh Wilson's "First Wives Club", Tom DiCillo's, "The
Real Blonde", Avi Nesher's "Taxman", and Christine Lucas's "Last Call". |
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Elizabeth Berkley - Personal Quotes |
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"Ever since those reviews for
Showgirls, it's like I was that woman in The Scarlet Letter. Except
that instead of having to wear the letter 'A' for adulteress, I was
condemned to wear an 'S' for showgirl."
On making 'Roger Dodger': "I really loved it. On set, it was like
being part of a real family. Everybody was there because they wanted
to be and not because of some pay check - there were no dressing
rooms or big trailers; you'd get ready in a bathroom. Here's this $2
million movie that could have gone nowhere or everywhere. But it's
one of the most special experiences that I've ever had. I want more
similar experiences. I'm not 'Showgirl' - that's the point!"
"The First Wives Club" gave me a certain level of confidence.
Because I was working with these three women - Goldie Hawn, Bette
Midler, and Diane Keaton - who as women have been through every high
and low. Goldie especially took me under her wing and was really
supportive. She told me, "I don't like the way you were directed in
that movie ["Showgirls"], but there's something there that you can't
deny. So you just keep doing what you're doing and someone will get
it, and someone will show the real you, and not just some idea of
you."
On working with high profile directors: I'm very grateful, because a
lot of actors would kill to work with any one of them. It's been a
very conscious choice on my part to work with the best - even if it
was taking a small supporting role. After "Showgirls", I really
wanted to surround myself with the best people. I wanted to build it
that way instead of doing flashy roles just like "Showgirls", which
would have hurt me.
"The first thing I want to say is that I think that "Threshold"
(2005) is one of the best new shows out there, which is one of the
reasons I wanted to join this amazing cast. Barbara Nance, the
writer of this episode, created an incredible, strong female
character who I knew I would have a lot of fun playing. There are
fight scenes, there is glamor, and there's this fun cat-and-mouse
game between me and Brian Van Holt, who plays Cavennaugh. All the
dynamics were in place. But what was fun was when Carla called me
not knowing that they had offered it, and even though we only have a
couple of scenes together, we were both so excited. Across the
board, the cast is amazing. The only other guest spots I've done in
the last couple of years were on shows that were already
established, like Without a Trace and CSI and NYPD Blue, so it was
fun to be a part of something from the beginning." (23 November
2005)
About Lauren Hutton: "Women shine when they are at their most
natural, and Lauren Hutton has a certain timelessness I admire. She
knows what works for her." (In Style Makeover, Volume 13, Number 9,
Fall 2006) |
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Elizabeth Berkley - Filmography |
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"Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
.... Danielle Quinn (1 episode, 2006)
... aka Law & Order: CI (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- Dollhouse (2006) TV Episode .... Danielle Quinn
"Threshold" .... Christine Polchek (1 episode, 2005)
- Progeny (2005) TV Episode .... Christine Polchek
"Without a Trace" .... Post-Makeover Lynette Shaw (1 episode, 2004)
... aka W.A.T (USA: short title)
- American Goddess (2004) TV Episode .... Post-Makeover Lynette Shaw
Meet Market (2004) .... Linda
Moving Malcolm (2003) .... Liz Woodward
Student Seduction (2003) (TV) .... Christie Dawson
Detonator (2003) .... Jane Dreyer
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" .... Renée, Foam Dancer (1 episode,
2003)
... aka C.S.I. (USA: short title)
... aka CSI: Las Vegas (USA: syndication title)
... aka CSI: Weekends (USA: promotional title)
... aka Experts, Les (Canada: French title)
- Lady Heather's Box (2003) TV Episode .... Renée, Foam Dancer
Control Factor (2003) (TV) .... Karen Bishop
"The Twilight Zone" .... Marisa Sanborn (1 episode, 2002)
- Sanctuary (2002) TV Episode .... Marisa Sanborn
Roger Dodger (2002) .... Andrea
"Titus" .... Shannon (3 episodes, 2001-2002)
- Same Courtesy (2002) TV Episode .... Shannon
- Tommy's Crush (2002) TV Episode .... Shannon
- Shannon's Song (2001) TV Episode .... Shannon
Cover Story (2002) .... Samantha Noble
... aka Ambition fatale (Canada: French title)
The Shipment (2001) .... Candy Colucci
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) .... Jill
... aka Im Bann des Jade Skorpions (Germany)
The Elevator (2001) (TV) .... Celeste
Becoming Dick (2000) (TV) .... Maggie
"NYPD Blue" .... Nicole Graf (2 episodes, 2000)
- Tea and Sympathy (2000) TV Episode .... Nicole Graf
- Roll Out the Barrel (2000) TV Episode .... Nicole Graf
"Jack & Jill" .... Gabi (1 episode, 2000)
- Under Pressure (2000) TV Episode .... Gabi
Any Given Sunday (1999) .... Mandy Murphy
Tail Lights Fade (1999) .... Eve
... aka Rallye, Le (Canada: French title)
"Brother's Keeper" .... Amy (1 episode, 1999)
- You Are Me (1999) TV Episode .... Amy
Last Call (1999/II) .... Helena
Africa (1999/I) .... Barbara Craig
Random Encounter (1998) .... Alicia 'Allie' Brayman
... aka Rencontre fortuite (Canada: French title)
Taxman (1998) .... Nadia Rubakov
The Real Blonde (1997) .... Tina
Armitage III: Poly Matrix (1997) (V) (voice) .... Naomi Armitage
... aka Armitage III: Polymatrix
"Perversions of Science" .... Ruth (1 episode, 1997)
- Planely Possible (1997) TV Episode .... Ruth
A Time to Revenge (1997) (scenes deleted) .... Tiffany Whittmar
The First Wives Club (1996) .... Phoebe LaVelle
Showgirls (1995) .... Nomi Malone
... aka Showgirls (France)
White Wolves II: Legend of the Wild (1995) .... Crystal
... aka Legend of the Wild
Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas (1994) (TV) .... Jessie
Spano
Molly & Gina (1994) .... Kimberly Sweeny
... aka A Time to Die (Europe)
... aka Burnhill
Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (1994) (TV) .... Beth
... aka Bandit Goes Country
"Burke's Law" .... Heather Charles (1 episode, 1994)
- Who Killed the Beauty Queen? (1994) TV Episode .... Heather
Charles
"Diagnosis Murder" .... Shannon Thatcher (1 episode, 1994)
- Flashdance with Death (1994) TV Episode .... Shannon Thatcher
"Saved by the Bell" .... Jessica 'Jessie' Myrtle Spano / ... (70
episodes, 1989-1993)
- Graduation (1993) TV Episode .... Jessica 'Jessie' Myrtle Spano
(1989-1992)
- The Time Capsule (1992) TV Episode .... Jessica 'Jessie' Myrtle
Spano
- Slater's Friend (1992) TV Episode .... Jessica 'Jessie' Myrtle
Spano
- Earthquake (1992) TV Episode .... Jessica 'Jessie' Myrtle Spano
- Snow White and the Seven Dorks (1992) TV Episode .... Jessica
'Jessie' Myrtle Spano
(65 more)
Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style (1992) (TV) .... Jessie Spano
"Baywatch" .... Courtney Bremmer (2 episodes, 1992)
... aka Baywatch Hawaii (USA: new title)
- Showdown at Malibu Beach High (1992) TV Episode .... Courtney
Bremmer
- Pier Pressure (1992) TV Episode .... Courtney Bremmer
"Step by Step" .... Lisa Morgan (1 episode, 1992)
- J.T.'s World (1992) TV Episode .... Lisa Morgan
"Raven" .... Deborah (1 episode, 1992)
- The Death of Sheila (1992) TV Episode .... Deborah
"Life Goes On" .... Selena (1 episode, 1990)
- La Dolce Becca (1990) TV Episode .... Selena
"Married People" .... Isabel (1 episode, 1990)
- Once More, with Passion (1990) TV Episode .... Isabel
"Valerie" .... Ashley (2 episodes, 1990)
... aka The Hogan Family (USA: new title)
... aka The Hogans
... aka Valerie's Family (USA: new title)
- California Dreamin': Part 2 (1990) TV Episode .... Ashley
- California Dreamin': Part 1 (1990) TV Episode .... Ashley
"Day by Day" .... Lizabeth (1 episode, 1988)
- Girl Wars (1988) TV Episode .... Lizabeth
Platinum Blonde (1988)
Frog (1987) (TV) .... Kathy
"Silver Spoons" .... Melissa (1 episode, 1986)
- Rick Moves Out (1986) TV Episode .... Melissa
"Gimme a Break!" (1 episode, 1986)
- Getting to Know You (1986) TV Episode |
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Elizabeth Berkley - Related Links |
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Wikipedia: Elizabeth Berkley
YouTube: Elizabeth Berkley
Elizabeth Berkley at Babemania.com
Top Celebrities Sites:
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