Pamela Anderson’s story of reinvention is one so many envy.
A defining figure of 1990s pop culture, she has undergone a significant cultural reappraisal in recent years, describing it as her “second act” – defined by creative autonomy, self-acceptance and a deliberate rewriting of her public narrative.
Her 2023 memoir Love, Pamela and the Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story reframed decades of tabloid mythology, revealing a thoughtful, introspective artist reclaiming authorship over her own story.
Ahead of the event tonight, Rolling Stone AU/NZ spoke with Anderson about Hollywood ageism, beauty standards, “Pam & Tommy,” and her unexpected second act on screen, including what’s to come.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Hollywood has typically been quite ageist when it comes to women. Do you think this is changing? Do we need to do more – and what can be done?
Pamela Anderson: That’s partly true. I think there have always been roles for older women – just no-one wanted to play them. I love playing older!
Your no-makeup decision has been talked about for years, and people really admire you for this. Does it feel freeing?
I appreciate the love I’ve received from this personal experiment of mine – its something I did for myself. It’s a journey, I save a lot of time! But I also love make up, it’s just not something I must do to feel better. I believe in great skin care, but simple not over promised or gimmicky.
In a world where everybody is obsessed with staying young (think The Substance), how does it feel to be defiant and authentic?
It’s not something I think about, but, in a world that is self-obsessed we risk the danger of prioritising profit over human, animal and nature’s interest. Narcissistic behaviour is malignant in our leadership, we have to listen to the trees!
You’ve talked about how beauty isn’t something to chase, it’s something to come home to (with your brand Sonsie). Do you think these kinds of messages can change the way young women see themselves? I know I didn’t have this type of messaging when I was younger.
My brand Sonsie is another form of expression for me. Something tangible I can share.
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In recent years you’ve done a lot of big productions like your broadway debut in Chicago in 2022, The Last Showgirl and The Naked Gun last year. What was the spark for you to want to return to the stage and screen these last few years?
I’ve been busy and learning a lot, I want to challenge myself and create very different characters from myself. I have a lot to draw from and I am very intense about my preparation and work – I give everything I am, and even surprise myself when a director digs something out of me I didn’t know existed. It’s better than therapy!
Rosebush Pruning, Place to Be (shot in Australia), Love Is Not the Answer and Somedays are already filmed, and I’m on my way to shoot Alma (a Sally Potter film) then Queen of the Falls, a kind of raw edgy musical with Guy Pearce, then another play.
You received Golden Globe nominations for The Last Showgirl and just about (incredibly) stole every scene of The Naked Gun you were in. Have these experiences inspired you to want to do more drama or comedy?
They are both hard work and take the same amount of intense exploration. I want to do it all – just nothing too scary or exploitive.
You recently expressed discomfort about the Hulu series Pam & Tommy as you were not involved in the production in any capacity. Have you and/or Tommy had any dialogue with the studio or producers like Seth Rogen since then?
No. I guess I should take it as a compliment? How would you feel? It’s just weird when I’m alive, I’m right here, like hello? Maybe call and ask? I’ve never heard from him. I’m on to other things – I’ll show him ha!
You’re here in Australia to discuss your life lessons. What are some life lessons you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?
I would say do the best you can, and be kind, love with all your heart and be strong (I think it’s what I’ve done). When in doubt, I refer to my favourite poem by St Francis – “make me an instrument of peace…” – if a spotlight finds you, be a beacon of hope and love.
Who would be your dream co-stars to work with?
Isabelle Huppert, Monica Bellucci, Catherine Deneuve… (I played Ellen Burstyn’s daughter in Place to Be), and I met Shirley McClain for lunch a few months ago. They are my heroes and there are so many great female artists that I’d love to be on the radar of…
As for men, I’ve been lucky so far and really don’t have a wish list mapped out! I loved working with Liam Neeson – it bothers me when people say our connection was a publicity stunt, it surely was not! I recently fell in love with Billy Bob Thornton on Somedays – where I play his girlfriend. I reserve the right to fall in love with my co-stars – it’s part of the job and feels like a real break up when all is done. The heart doesn’t know the difference! I am wise enough to know that these affairs rarely last, and I would never cross the line with a man who was taken. The golden rule is to not sleep with your co-stars (even if they are single) – you want to keep the heat, the passion and the mystery- fantasising is not a crime… and it’s important.
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Any future productions/projects you can tell us about/tease for us?
I start another film in May, have a musical-ish shooting in late summer [winter for Australia], and a theatre production in the works for 2027, and another film being written now that Kornel Mondruczo will direct. I have a lot to look forward to and I am blessed to be given this second chance at a career that almost slipped through my fingers.
But, in the mean time if you want to ask me about my deepest concern, it would be a shame to not mention, as a lover of nature and life – it is climate change. I’m in awe of the astronauts who recently circled the moon – I wish it received more attention globally. It’s a big reminder of just how small we are here on Earth, and how from orbit, pollution and climate ignores borders, environmental damage in one regions drifts globally, the divisions fought so fiercely on the ground simply do not exist from above, and that war is it’s biggest contributor. Pray for peace.
Final tickets to Pamela Anderson’s In Conversation are available here.
