Published on: January 6, 2025, 02:15h.
Last edited on: January 6, 2025, 02:15h.
She didn’t win the Golden Globe she was nominated for on Sunday night, but Pamela Anderson is now generating Oscar buzz. The iconic “Baywatch” star delivers a powerful performance as a Las Vegas showgirl facing the twilight of her career in Gia Copolla’s indie film, “The Last Showgirl,” which is receiving critical acclaim and hits theaters this Wednesday.
“I have always taken my work seriously, including ‘Baywatch,'” Anderson shared with Vegas PBS after a movie screening at the Beverly Theatre in Las Vegas. “People may not realize that, but I have a genuine interest in the art of acting. I just needed the right opportunity.”
Copolla (granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola) identified Anderson after witnessing the vulnerability she displayed in the 2023 Netflix documentary “Pamela, A Love Story.” There were parallels between Anderson’s personal journey and that of her character in the film.
Shelley, a dancer in her fifties with no other apparent skills, faces a future of working minimum-wage jobs with her former colleague (Jamie Lee Curtis).
All of this follows Shelley’s sacrifice of her marriage and her strained relationship with her daughter, who still carries the emotional wounds of being left in a casino parking lot during performances due to Shelley’s inability to afford childcare.
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“The Last Showgirl” sheds light on the struggles of numerous former Las Vegas showgirls who felt lost professionally and personally after the closure of the last two showgirl production shows on the Strip – “Folie Bergere” at the Tropicana in 2009 after 50 years, and “Jubilee!” at Bally’s in 2016 after 35 years.
Anderson consulted with a group of former “Jubilee!” showgirls to gather insights.
“I invited them over for tea, and we discussed various stories, do’s and don’ts, and essential aspects that were meaningful to them,” Anderson shared with Vegas PBS. “I took inspiration from their pride and how they carried themselves in daily life, similar to dancers.”
Anderson spent months preparing for the role with her acting coach, Ivana Chubbuck, before filming the movie in 18 days last January at the Rio.
“I had to delve deep into myself to portray this character,” she explained.
Deadline praised Anderson’s performance as “career-defining, both heartbreaking and sensational,” while “IndieWire” described it as “raw and nuanced, showcasing the bittersweet reality of aging in showbiz.”
At 57, Anderson is optimistic about her blossoming acting career following the success of “The Last Showgirl.”
“I always knew I had more to offer than what I was doing before, but I needed the right opportunity to showcase that. Gia saw through all the noise and recognized an artist yearning to express herself,” Anderson reflected.
“It’s never too late.”