Pamela Anderson isn’t holding back about how good it feels to receive high praise for her new film The Last Showgirl — especially after the Hulu series Pam & Tommy, which was released nearly three years ago, was made without her knowledge, she says.
Anderson recently went on Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live to discuss The Last Showgirl, and Cohen asked her about Pam & Tommy. “I didn’t have any involvement. No one called me, which was so strange and that was hurtful,” Anderson said. “I think ethically it’s illegal. But I mean, you’re kind of fair game. I remember people telling me that a long time ago that you are basically public property and have no right to privacy.”
Cohen then asked her if anyone from Hulu ever came to her and tried to make it right. Anderson replied, “No they haven’t.”
The series was hard for Anderson to re-live as it recreated the moment when her sex tape with ex-husband Tommy Lee was stolen. She previously told The Hollywood Reporter about her distaste for the series. “I blocked that out of my life. I had to in order to survive, really. It was a survival mechanism,” she said. “Now that it’s all coming up again, I feel sick from my whole stomach — from the middle of my chest all the way down to my stomach. [My stomach] feels right now like it’s just been punched.”
The Last Showgirl, meanwhile, has earned her critical praise, and she’s scored Gotham, Golden Globe and SAG Awards nominations for her work on the film.
“Anderson’s transformative performance is undeniably affecting, offering illuminating insights into both the character and the actress playing her, who has had to struggle to be taken seriously. This role should mark a turning point on that front,” THR‘s chief film critic David Rooney, wrote in his review.
After reflecting on the series, Anderson believes: “It’s just one of those things. It happened and now I’m here and so this is the best payback … I’m being seen and recognized for my work and not these tawdry moments.”
The Last Showgirl is currently in theaters.
