TIL both Charlize Theron and Drew Barrymore came very close to starring in ‘Showgirls’ instead of Elizabeth Berkley



    Posted by mlg1981

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    12 Comments

    1. I am trying to imagine what Showgirls could have been with one them in the lead… it’s a wild brain exercise that I am too tired for.

    2. VariationAgreeable29 on

      I love that Charlize is humoring Drew that they’re both serious actors when only one of them is.

    3. tortiecalico on

      Also wonder if their careers would have been the way they were if they had been in Showgirls

    4. Resident_Ad5153 on

      thank the lord charlize didn’t star in showgirls. charlize can act. elizabeth berkley’s performance is absolutely crucial to the charm of that movie.

    5. rythmicjea on

      In the Saved by the Bell reboot they make a whole gag out of Jesse being in Las Vegas but no one knowing what she did. She does a pole dance and everything and it’s hilarious! Kelly is like “what happened in Vegas?!”

    6. Stinkycheese8001 on

      When this was casting and in production, it was essentially being billed as this wild, salacious part that was going to be a huge opportunity for an actress to be the next Sharon Stone.  If you know anything about 1990s Drew Barrymore, this is exactly the type of project she would have been drawn to.  And if you’ve seen Charlize’s actual debut in 2 Days In The Valley, it’s not super shocked that she would have been in the running for Showgirls.  I’ve never been a fan of Showgirls, despite its cult status – while the sleaze is the point, I’ve never been able to get over how much the movie seems to enjoy degrading Elizabeth Berkeley, and not to mention the intense sexual violence.  I definitely support Elizabeth’s pride in making it and the reframing, but it feels like a course over correction.

    7. Porter_Dog on

      Imo one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. I remember the controversy well though. It was rated X at first then, they had to edit it more just to get the MA rating. That controversy and the rating got drew a lot of eyeballs.

    8. flirtydodo on

      Now I am imagining Drew Barrymore in that pool scene and I am crackling

    9. Imagine Charlize as Nomi. Talent would’ve been there. But would the glorious trainwreck energy? Elizabeth Berkley gave that role something no one else could — absolute, unhinged commitment.

    10. Love them, but everything ended up exactly as it should be. Can’t imagine anyone else as Nomi.

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