Gina Gershon Reflects on Getting PTSD from ‘Showgirls’ and Meeting Paul Snider
The actress also discussed her new book on Radio Andy’s “The Julia Cunningham Show.”
Gina Gershon appeared on Radio Andy’s “The Julia Cunningham Show” to discuss her new book, “AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs.” During her conversation with Julia, Gina reflected on getting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from her role in the 1995 cult classic “Showgirls.”
“I couldn’t watch it for years ’cause a little bit of PTSD, I think, in a very slight way,” she said of the movie. “No disrespect to real PTSD, but I would get very tense and anxious when I thought about certain things and stories, and so I never really watched it again, and I would kind of use the excuse of like, “Well,” and it was a real excuse, like, “I can’t deal with my accent,” ’cause I had to lie about my accent.”
She also reflected on arguing with director Paul Verhoeven on set, specifically about the rape scene, before finally appreciating his commentary on “ugly America” years later.
“I remembered watching “Showgirls” and I was really like, we argued a lot, as you could tell in some of the stories, but I remember when I saw that rape scene, I’m like, “Are you insane? You have to take this scene out,” Gina said.
“But going 30 years later, 25 years later, a friend of mine, a writer friend, she said, “No, you don’t understand how great ‘Showgirls’ is,” she added. “I’m like, “I guess I really don’t,” but when I saw it from afar, not being in it, and all of a sudden I’m like, “Oh my god.” It was really a comment on ugly America and on capitalism and power struggles and dynamics and all those things that of course that rape scene has to be there. It’s the grossest thing in there and the powerful men, they’re all protected and, you know, so that’s why it’s exciting when she kicks the guy’s ass.”
During the interview, Gina also recalled working as a Chippendales cocktail waitress in Los Angeles and meeting Paul Snider before his murder-suicide.
Stream the full episode with Gina Gershon exclusively on the SiriusXM app.