Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (née Berkley) was born on July 28, 1972, in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to Fred Berkley, a lawyer, and Jere Berkley, owner of a gift basket business. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Berkley began taking dance lessons at a young age and pursued a career in performing arts throughout her childhood and adolescence.
Berkley’s early career included roles in television shows and made-for-TV movies. She made guest appearances in series such as “Saved by the Bell” before landing the role of Jessie Spano in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” and subsequently in the original “Saved by the Bell” series from 1989 to 1993. This role served as her breakthrough, establishing her as a teen idol and gaining her widespread recognition.
Following “Saved by the Bell,” Berkley transitioned to film. Her most notable film role during this period was in Paul Verhoeven’s “Showgirls” (1995), which, despite initial critical and commercial failure, has since gained a cult following. She has since appeared in a variety of films, including:
Berkley has continued to work in television, appearing in guest roles on various series and starring in made-for-TV movies. She reprised her role as Jessie Spano in the “Saved by the Bell” revival series on Peacock in 2020. She also starred in the TV series “CSI: Miami” (2009) as Julia Winston.
Berkley is the author of “Ask Elizabeth,” a self-help book for teenage girls, based on workshops she conducted. She has also been involved in various charitable causes.
Elizabeth Berkley married Greg Lauren in 2003. They