October 19th 2024.
Denise Richards, known for her iconic role in the James Bond franchise, almost landed a completely different gig in the 90s. The former Bond girl and legendary movie star was considered for a role in the cult classic film Showgirls, but ultimately lost out. However, Richards sees this as a blessing in disguise.
At the age of 53, Richards is best known for her roles in Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and as Dr. Christmas Jones in the 1999 Bond film The World Is Not Enough. During a panel at New York Comic Con, she revealed that she auditioned for the lead role of Nomi Malone in Showgirls, but the part went to Elizabeth Berkley instead. Reflecting on the experience, Richards said, "I auditioned for Showgirls and didn't get it, which is probably a blessing."
But the audition wasn't a complete waste of time, as it likely led to Richards landing the role of Captain Carmen Ibanez in Starship Troopers. She believes that director Paul Verhoeven, who also directed Showgirls, brought her in for the audition because of her previous attempt for the other film. Verhoeven is also known for directing hit movies like Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Hollow Man, and RoboCop.
Showgirls, starring Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon, tells the story of Nomi Malone, a drifter who dreams of becoming a showgirl in Las Vegas. Richards' character, Molly, befriends Nomi at the Stardust Hotel, where she works. Nomi then meets Cristal, a marquee dancer, and her boyfriend Zack, who help her get closer to her dreams. However, at what cost?
The film received a lot of controversy for its explicit sexual content, but this also created a lot of hype around its release. Showgirls became the first and only NC-17 film to be given a wide release in mainstream theatres, but unfortunately, it didn't do well at the box office, only grossing $37.8 million against a $45 million budget. The film is now considered one of the worst ever made.
MacLachlan, who plays Zack in the film, famously admitted that he was shocked and disappointed by the end result. "I was absolutely gobsmacked," he said about seeing the movie for the first time at its premiere. "I said, 'This is horrible. Horrible!' And it's a very slow, sinking feeling when you're watching the movie, and the first scene comes out, and you're like, 'Oh, that's a really bad scene.' But you say, 'Well, that's okay, the next one'll be better.' And you somehow try to convince yourself that it's going to get better... and it just gets worse. And I was like, 'Wow. That was crazy. I mean, I really didn't see that coming.'"
Despite the initial negative reception, Showgirls has found its audience and is now considered a cult classic. MacLachlan, who distanced himself from the film, appreciates that it has found fans. "Now, of course, it has a whole other life as a sort of inadvertent... satire," he said. "No, 'satire' isn't the right word. But it's inadvertently funny. So it's found its place." The film has even generated over $100 million from rentals alone.
It's safe to say that Showgirls' journey to cult classic status was unexpected, but it has certainly found its place in the entertainment world. Despite consistently being ranked as one of the worst films ever made, it has gained a dedicated following. If you have a story to share about Showgirls or any other celebrity news, you can reach out to us by email, phone, or by visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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