Pamela Anderson, 57, unveils huge transformation as she admits to 'beating herself up'

A cultural icon of the 90s, Pamela Anderson is best known for her big blonde hair, Jessica Rabbit figure and that classic Baywatch swimsuit. But her latest project, The Last Showgirl, will no doubt draw attention away from the pin-up image and draw plaudits for her incredible acting abilities.

Critics are raving about 57-year-old Pamela’s portrayal of Las Vegas showgirl Shelly, who is facing the prospect of losing her livelihood when the show she’s performed in for the past three decades is set to close. Despite missing out on an Oscar nomination, Pamela’s performance, a lot of which she has drawn from her own life experiences, has been hailed as “the role of a lifetime”, and it seems she agrees.

“Honestly, it feels like my first acting job is probably this movie,” she admits. “I’ve been in this business a long time, but I’ve never had any material like this before. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to apply everything I’ve loved and learnt over my career. I’ve taken acting classes and lessons before, but I really had nowhere to apply what I had learnt, so I got to put everything in this film.”

Pammy’s comeback – dubbed a “Pamaissance” by fans – and her raw Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story have contributed to a period of transformation for the Canadian star. Here, Pamela, who has two sons, Brandon Thomas, 28, and Dylan Jagger, 27, with her first husband, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, opens up to international press via Zoom about why she feels this is the “beginning of her career”. She also reflects on mistakes of the past and shares her refreshing views on beauty…

Hi! Why is now the right time for Pamela Anderson to return to the spotlight?

My son chose this. Brandon, the producer of my documentary, said to me, “It’s time, Mum. I want people to know who you are. I don’t want you to be misunderstood or thought of in a certain way when you’re more than that.” He put the documentary together and then he found the script for The Last Showgirl . When I read it, I responded so organically. I thought, “This is what I have to do. It’s life or death.”

How does it feel to have all of this attention on you again?
I’m just happy that The Last Showgirl is resonating with people. I’m really happy that people are appreciating the hard work that goes into creating a three-dimensional character like this – a character who is interesting and touching. These last few years have been an incredible ride. It’s been very hard work, but I love hard work, so I guess it’s all about timing really. I have to thank my children, Brandon and Dylan, who are partners in this. We do a lot of businesses together, but they took it upon themselves to help set me up so that I could finally shine.

Why does the character of Shelly in The Last Showgirl resonate with so many people?
Like me, I think people are resonating with the mother/child story. As a parent in the entertainment industry… Well, in any industry, actually. There’s no perfect way to do it. That really resonated with me. In all her flaws and imperfections – and the way she wears her heart on her sleeve – Shelly is no pushover. Like me, she’s definitely her own being.

What first attracted you to the film?
When I first read the script, I thought it was wonderful. Then I came to realise that I relate to the character of Shelly on so many levels. I love glamour and nostalgia in the same way Shelly does. I relate to the themes of feeling seen and feeling beautiful. I wanted to play this character – especially someone who was holding up these beautiful costumes and head-dresses. I wanted to know who the woman was behind the rhinestones.

What research did you tackle for the role?
We had the real showgirls come to my house. We had lunch together and told stories. For me, it was important that we represented them in an honest way – and I can’t wait for them to see it. That’s going to be the seal of approval. That’s who we really want to impress with this film because they were so warm and welcoming. The story really resonates. I mean, the story is about a woman who has been discounted, discarded and she’s fighting back in her own way. She has this messy, beautiful life that I can’t wait for audiences to see. These women are very proud of their art form. That was something else that was important for us to talk about in the movie.

The showgirls are beauty icons, just like you. What do you think of beauty today?
What is beauty? I think it’s subjective and I think we really have to find that within ourselves. My mum says beauty comes from within. That never ages.

How ambitious are you?
I don’t consider myself a very ambitious person, but I’ve learnt that life happens and you have to make the most of it. Before I found this role, I was beating myself up, thinking, “I just didn’t work hard enough. This wasn’t meant to be.” I navigated it the best I could to get here, but now I’m excited again. I want to leave behind a legacy my kids and my family can be proud of. They’ve always known I was capable of more.

When you look back at the making of the movie, what do you remember about shooting the scenes where Shelly fights with her daughter Hannah? How much did that part of the story resonate with you?
In the movie, you get the feeling that everyone is just doing the best they can. I think that’s the goal. I mean, I did things a little differently than Shelly did – but I can relate to trying to figure out what to do with your child, especially if you have a little bit of a sexualised image. What does that do to a child looking at you? I get chills even thinking about it.

Do you hope for more independent film work like this in the future?
I feel like this is just the beginning of my career. When I went home, I gave up and thought, “I guess I’m just never going to be able to do or be what I’m capable of. I guess I really f****d up. Whatever. I’ll figure it out.” But then I got this role and I figured I had nothing to lose. This might be the only movie I ever do in my life, but I know I’m capable of more, so that’s what pushed me. But I do feel like I’ve just begun to scratch the surface.

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