'Showgirls,' 'Saved By the Bell' Star Elizabeth Berkley Gives Teen Girls a Boost

By Nicki Gostin Posted Mar 23rd 2011 11:00AM

Elizabeth Berkley, who has achieved pop culture immortality twice by co-starring in the NC-17 camp classic 'Showgirls' and well as the iconic teen TV series 'Saved by the Bell,' has a surprising secret life. For more than four years she has volunteered her time and established 'Ask Elizabeth' workshops in schools around the country. The workshops she created are designed to foster self-esteem in teenage girls and provide them with a safe environment to share and confess their private thoughts and problems.

She now has a book out called 'Ask Elizabeth: Real Answers to Everything You Secretly Wanted to Ask About Love, Friends, Your Body...And Life in General.' It's a wonderful distillation of all the issues discussed in the workshops covering topics like body image, relationships and bullying. Berkley says the whole experience has been "humbling," and her life "has been transformed by it."

This is a pretty amazing thing you've set up.
This has been a heart and soul mission that I've been doing for almost the last five years. It wasn't about my publicist aligning me with a cause. I created this grassroots style myself because I saw a void out there in how our adolescent girls out there were being served. My intention was to give them a safe space to be heard and provide a forum for them. I wanted to create something active so girls could participate and make changes for themselves. I created a two-hour interactive self-esteem based workshop. I started it initially in New York where I was doing a Broadway show, and after the first few I started getting calls from schools asking if I could come to their school. Most were in New York, but then very quickly I started getting calls from Texas, Michigan, Chicago, and I found myself on a plane flying myself wherever the requests came from. I do this strictly as a volunteer.

How many girls have you spoken with?
It's definitely been over 30,000 girls that I've personally sat with on football fields, cafeterias and libraries and shared meaningful dialogue with. I set a framework to enable the girls to help each other. I don't profess to have all the answers. I provide a safe place with certain exercises and methods that allow them to feel safe at every turn. I don't talk at them, I talk with them.

Elizabeth's ask-elizabeth.com looks to give teenage girls a self-esteem boost.

What's one of the most popular topics?
There's a huge aspect in the book about identity and sense of self. A big thing is comparison. Compare and despair which leads them into self-loathing. It's not enough to just talk about an issue, it's what you do about it and that's where I come in and girls who have participated in the program and a team of experts talk. A girl can take whatever works for them. That's why there are so many offerings.

You're married to Greg Lauren who is really gorgeous, a really talented painter and Ralph Lauren's nephew. Clothing jackpot!
First of all, my closet right now is full of my husband's clothes because he just launched an amazing clothing line at Barney's. I'm a very lucky girl to be wearing his designs, and I get to wear them first. He's immensely talented, has the biggest heart, and I'm just so grateful I found someone I love so much. The fact that he comes from that family is lovely because they're a lovely, generous, nurturing family.

My main concern would be that they're generous with clothes.
(Laughs) I definitely am grateful for the beautiful clothes I have.

What's happening with the 'Saved by the Bell' reunion on Jimmy Fallon?
I don't know. It's been a year in the making. I would love to do it. We had a ball when we shot the cover of People. Everyone's schedule is so crazy. Luckily we're all working so much. Just to get us to that photo shoot was a miracle. We were 15 when we did that show. There was such an innocence when we were working together.

You know there are a lot of grown men who watch that show in a creepy way.
It used to be on before football on Saturday morning, and it was called the girls show. I think that show has a certain innocence. I don't know if it's liking watching the girls or brings them back to a sweet time in their life if they grew up with it. I know there's a college drinking game where every time Mario says Mama to me they take a drink.

It's funny how 'Showgirls' has become a camp classic.
For as bad as people said it was when it came out, the last laugh is that it's one of the top 10 grossing films in video for MGM. The fact that it has this cult status, I love it. I love that it's been embraced. It took some time; it was not easy when it came out. I love the gay community, and I'm grateful for their support.

Elizabeth Berkley Saved By the Bell and Showgirls

Elizabeth Berkley Saved By the Bell and Showgirls

Berkley in 'Saved by the Bell' (left) and 'Showgirls' Photo Credit: Everett

Tags: elizabeth berkley

Comments

(8)

Wednesday 23 March

By Stephanie

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Are you trying to make up for all the times that you took your clothes off for money. I would have my daughter take advice from Britney Spears before you. You have no idea how to inspire a young girl. If you are trying to make things right with your past do it in private but please do not preach to young girls. It was really sad that you went from this innocent girl on Saved by the bell to a trashy showgirl. I feel bad for the girls who looked up to you just to get their hearts broken. As a Mom of seven I have seen this so many times with my girls (Hannah Montana)Christina Aguilar,etc. So,Sham,Sham only trying to get fame.

By ruminskimom

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So she took her clothes off for a movie, that makes her a bad person? You would rather they take advice from Britney Spears? Really? Seems to me it is YOU that has the problem, not her. There also should be a limit on how many children you should have. Chances are, you homeschool your children your husband works his butt off while you sit at home. You do not seem all that intelligent either. I would rather my daughter takes advice from her than someone like you anytime.

By Chris b

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Rihanna better start worry, lol.

By Body by Gym

Elizabeth is a very sweet person. She worked on hard on her body by exercising often and made good use of her gym membership. She earned the body she sculpted by herself. She is a self-created success.

So, if you are unhappy with that, well, boo hoo.

She's continued her success through marriage to a decent man and contributes to girls' mental health.

Get off the couch, join a gym and stop looking at her if it bothers you so much. She looks like she's getting better with age, inside and out. Can you say the same about yourself?

By Southpaw

Stephanie: EB's an actress. Britney Spears? Really? The one who married trashy K-Fed? Isn't Ms. Perkins married to a quality man? Why don't you start there (because like attracts like). Can you wrap your small brain around that? Why not throw in Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton while you're busy talking like a moron. You obviously have a very low IQ. You sound like white trash yourself.

By Blonde Ambition

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At least Elizabeth's working hard to redeem herself. I've always rooted for her. We don't need crabby haters like Stephanie to screw this up.

Saturday 26 March

By Dr. M

She looks a lot better without all the crappy makeup on. I mean, she looks like she was wearing 3 pairs of eyelashes in that "Showgirl" photo. Actually, I think the best part she played was the supporting role in "The First Wives Club." THAT was funny! The Showgirl part was trashy.

By TOM

I would like to know what her mother thought of show girls ...she's still a HO ...

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