After her devastating yet heartwarming documentary last year, Pamela Anderson is back. She's set to star in The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola. Set in Las Vegas, she will play a showgirl who must find herself after her show is cancelled.
As she prepares to begin promoting the movie, which is due for release in 2025, Pamela has opened up to Deadline about how thankful she is that the film is “not exploitative”, but a “touching story”.
“It’s so wonderful that this film is not exploitive," she said. “It’s not about violence or overt sexuality. It’s such a touching story and on so many different generations.”
She’s been a world-famous sex symbol, an icon of pop culture since the '90s – and now Pamela Anderson is also honoured as one of GLAMOUR’s two Global Women of the Year. Here, she opens up to Emily Maddick about her new era, past mistakes, the lasting impact of the sex tape scandal, what she feels about Donald Trump and how finally at the age of 57 she feels more confident about her appearance than ever before.
Pamela also shared that the film will star younger talent, such as Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka, and the protectiveness she feels towards young female stars. “I feel like I do mentor a lot of women in this industry who have gone down a path that is a scary kind of path,” she said. “And I’ve helped a lot of women, and I have nieces and my sons have girlfriends, and I wonder in this culture, what’s enough?”
She also got incredibly real about society's vilification of her own body and life, and her empowered response to that: “I’ve been sexualised and objectified in my life and career, but I don’t want to be defined by what has been done to me. I want to be defined by what I do.”
“I wouldn’t change one thing about my life or I wouldn’t be here,” Pamela added. “I’ve danced between shame and beating myself up about so many things or wondering what life would’ve been if I didn’t experience the things I did, even as a child, there’s so much."
This will be Pamela's biggest role in decades, and it looks to tell an amazing story. She has also shot action thriller The Naked Gun with Liam Neeson, and is set to star in upcoming drama Rosebush Pruning alongside Elle Fanning and Riley Keough.
The Last Showgirl will be Gia Coppola's third feature film, and she's full of praise already for Pamela and her performance. “I’ve always wanted to make a movie in Vegas,” she told Deadline. “I’m so proud of our cast and crew, especially Pamela. I can’t wait to share her daring and heartfelt performance!”
The pair shared their thoughts on sisterhood, women stepping into their power, and protecting their mental wellbeing.
The director has also shared a first look at the movie on her Instagram, with Pamela front and centre.
Here's everything we know so far about The Last Showgirl.
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The Last Showgirl plot
The official synopsis for the movie says that The Last Showgirl "follows a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.
“As a dancer in her fifties, she struggles with what to do next. As a mother, she strives to repair a strained relationship with her daughter, who often took a backseat to her showgirl family.”
There's a lot at play here – chosen family, female ties within a family and finding meaning and purpose later in life. We can't wait for it.
The Last Showgirl cast
Joining Pamela will be Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd. Huge, huge names.
The Last Showgirl release date
The Last Showgirl is set to drop in UK cinemas on 28 February 2025.
The Last Showgirl trailer
The trailer shows just a taster of what we can expect from Pamela's powerhouse of a performance. She's absolutely heartbreaking in her vulnerability. Plus, the Las Vegas backdrop is glittering, the costumes are stunning and we can't wait to see her team up with Jamie Lee Curtis.
We can also hear Miley Cyrus' vocals in the trailer, so will we see a cameo… or more of her music on the soundtrack?
The actor opens up about her relationship with makeup and why she believes anti-aging is a lie.
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