Movies - TV
Paul Verhoeven Doesn't Think Elizabeth Berkley Is To Blame For Showgirls' Poor Reception
By DANIELLE RYAN
Elizabeth Berkley’s career never recovered from the disastrous reception of “Showgirls,” and director Paul Verhoeven felt she shouldered far too much of the blame. Plenty of other careers didn't end with "Showgirls," including Verhoeven’s, so it's unfair that Berkley took the brunt.
Verhoeven felt he was to blame for Berkley's performance as Nomi, saying, “Good or not good, I was the one who asked her to exaggerate everything — every move — because that was the element of style that I thought would work for the movie." He hoped that Nomi’s struggle with drug use would explain her behavior, but instead, most audiences went after Berkley's acting.
Berkley's career had just been gaining momentum, and "Showgirls" ended that almost entirely, as she was dropped by her agent and became somewhat of an outcast in Hollywood circles. She was shunned for her performance and for being secure enough to bare it all, and as a result, audiences never really got a chance to see what else Berkley could do.