Elizabeth Berkley, who was born on July 28, 1974 in a Michigan suburb, excelled in dancing as a child. Her parents encouraged her passion for dancing and built Elizabeth her own dance studio in the family basement. By 9 years old, Berkley had already traveled to New York by train with top choreographers and dancers, participated in various ballets and starred in several musicals.

Berkley then signed with Elite to become a professional teen model. Although her film debut was in the 1987 made-for-TV movie “Frog,” it was in her TV guest appearances that led to a role in “Saved by the Bell,” where the 15-year-old Berkley played a feminist high school girl named Jessie. After appearing in two TV-movie installments for the show and working from 1989 to 1993, Elizabeth Berkley received two “Young Artist Award” nominations for ‘Saved by the Bell.’ When the show ended, Berkley tried her luck in the big screen and landed the role of Nomi Malone in the 1995 Paul Verhoeven movie, “Showgirls.” Although the film wasn’t received well by critics, it has since become one of the top 50 cult films of all time, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Elizabeth Berkley then appeared in numerous small roles in films, such as the comedy flick “The First Wives Club,” Madonna’s “The Real Blonde” and the video anime “Armitage III: Poly Matrix.” Berkley also became a household name for independent films and appeared in “Tail Lights Fade,” “The Taxman,” “Moving Malcolm” and “Roger Dodger.” She also made a small, yet key role in the drama “Any Given Sunday” with Al Pacino and Woody Allen’s “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.”

Berkley went on stage for a London stage adaptation of “Lenny” and made a Broadway debut opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the 2004 comedy “Sly Fox.” In 2005, Elizabeth replaced Catherine Kellner for the role of ‘Bonnie’ in the Off-Broadway production “Hurlyburly.” Her work in Hurlyburly received critical praises, which led to a part at the 6th Annual 24-Hour Plays, wherein 24 actors, production crews, 6 directors and 6 writers are given 24 hours to write, direct and perform 6 ten-minute plays.

Aside from films and Broadway, Elizabeth Berkley also appeared on numerous TV shows, including “Threshold,” “Law & Order,” “Without a Trace,” “CSI,” “CSI Miami,” and “NYPD Blue.” In 2000, Berkley joined the cast of the FOX sitcom “Titus” and appeared on two made-for-TV movies – Lifetime TV’s “Student Seduction” and RHI Entertainment’s “Black Widow.”

In 2008, Elizabeth came back to her roots and became the host of Bravo’s reality dancing competition “Step it Up and Dance.” She also stars in the 2008 short film “The Butler’s in Love” and the 2009 movie “S. Darko.” Berkley will be guest-starring in the Showtime hit series “The L Word” for its 2009 final season and is set to star in her own MTV show called “Ask Elizabeth,” a TV version of Berkley’s self-help program for teen girls.