Pamela Anderson’s Comeback in The Last Showgirl

Published in Unique Estates Life Spring Issue 2025

It is an unpleasant truth that people often feel particular schadenfreude at the downfall of beautiful and sexy women. As if the trap that almost everyone falls into is for them a special punishment and somehow deserved revenge, for stirring emotions, inspiring and making admirers tremble. This almost happened to one of the most controversial figures in the entertainment world – Canadian actress Pamela Anderson, who made a serious step from being a bunny in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy “zoo” to a successful and beloved TV actress in the series Baywatch. Her red swimsuit is currently part of the “The Big Splash” exhibition at London’s Design Museum, while just days ago Pamela was living her true dream – to be part of serious cinema in Gia Coppola’s new film The Last Showgirl.

The independent production by the granddaughter of the legendary Francis Ford Coppola naturally attracted huge interest toward its lead actress – former Miss Canada contestant Pamela Anderson. In fact, if anyone ever expected that the creator of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now would post a photo with Pamela Anderson on his Instagram, it would have seemed impossible. Yet it happened, thanks to Pamela’s talent – she was Coppola’s first and only choice for the role of an aging Las Vegas dancer at the crossroads of her life. A position Anderson herself knows well, after going through countless ups and downs in her own odyssey.

Let us recall her many intimate affairs and scandalous marriages to musician Tommy Lee (father of her two sons), immortalized in countless shots worthy of Playboy’s pages. Then came her autobiographical book Love, Pamela, published also in Bulgarian (ProBook), where Anderson spares nothing – neither her triumphs nor her failures, hopes or nightmares. Especially those tied to her liberated sexual life, which made her a favorite prey of paparazzi and greedy fans who sold her infamous private tapes with Tommy Lee for large sums. This chapter of their story was also the focus of the documentary Pamela, A Love Story, produced by her eldest son, where both mother and son worked to free her from Tommy Lee’s shadow and the “sex bomb” label, opening the doors to a new chapter in her life.

And it worked. Pamela published her memoirs, then a cookbook, and earlier this year was even close to making history as the first Playboy bunny ever nominated for an Oscar. She didn’t gather enough points and support, but in recent months the Canadian actress has truly been living her greatest dream – to be the real Pamela Anderson, not the media image. Gia Coppola helped her break free, placing her alongside strong company – actresses Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song and Billie Lourd.

Pamela’s hidden talent and character had been spotted years earlier by the late fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, who invited her to several shows and campaigns. Pamela loves fashion, and designers love her back – she was among the few celebrities at Jacquemus’ spring–summer collection launch and a first-row star at Dior’s runway shows.

Leaving Las Vegas

Gia Coppola’s latest film The Last Showgirl premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and has already earned multiple nominations. Among them are the Special Jury Prize at San Sebastian, where it competed for the Golden Shell, and two Golden Globe nominations – for Best Original Song and Best Actress in a Drama. The touching story of The Last Showgirl is about human resilience, with Anderson starring as Shelly – a glamorous Las Vegas showgirl who must decide her future after her 30-year-long revue career suddenly ends. Critics agree that with this role, Pamela makes a powerful and very different comeback in show business.