actress, best-selling author, teen advocate, best known for Saved By The Bell
Elizabeth Berkley Lauren is an actress, philanthropist, and producer. Berkley's most notable roles were as ‘Jessica Spano’ in the hit television series Saved by the Bell, and as ‘Nomi Malone’ in the 1995 Paul Verhoeven film SHOWGIRLS.
She is also known for portraying the title role in the English dub of the anime film ARMITAGE III: POLY-MATRIX and her supporting roles in the films THE FIRST WIVES CLUB and ROGER DODGER. In theater, she received critical acclaim for her performance in the play Hurlyburly. Elizabeth also appeared for several seasons in the hit series CSI: MIAMI as ‘Julia Winston’, and in the final season of Showtime's THE L WORD. Thanks to television syndication of SAVED BY THE BELL, Elizabeth is a favorite among a whole new generation of teen girls, and currently reprises her role as ‘Jessica’ in Peacock’s reboot of the series.
Elizabeth has been making life-changing connections with these girls over the past seven years through Ask Elizabeth, her not-for-profit organization that includes self-esteem workshops she facilitates as a volunteer in schools and for youth organizations, a thriving website (ask-elizabeth.com) that hosts digital content as a way to be of continued service to girls and, most recently, her book "Ask Elizabeth" (published by Penguin), which made The New York Times' best-seller list. This nationwide movement has affected the lives of over 100,000 girls and counting. She was also a featured contributor on Oprah.com, bridging the communication gap between mothers and daughters.
Elizabeth Berkley was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Her mother, Jere, owns a gift basket business and her father, Fred, is a lawyer. When Elizabeth was five her parents enrolled her at Detroit Dance Company. Loving dance, young Elizabeth began to take part in several ballets, including Swan Lake, and, in 1983, starred in some musicals (sometimes singing in Italian).
She and husband Greg Lauren are the proud parents of son Sky Cole Lauren.