Pamela Anderson Opens Up About Decades of Struggle and a Triumphant Return to the Spotlight
From the Shadows to the Spotlight: Anderson Reflects on Overcoming Personal Struggles and Embracing a New Chapter in Her Career
The actress reflects on her journey from ‘Baywatch’ to Broadway, revealing a past marked by depression and newfound hope in her latest film, The Last Showgirl.
Pamela Anderson is experiencing a remarkable career renaissance with her latest film, The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, which has garnered her some of the best reviews of her career. During her recent appearance at the Zurich Film Festival, where she accepted the prestigious Golden Eye Award, Anderson candidly opened up about her struggles with depression, saying she felt like she “had depression for a couple of decades.”
Anderson, 57, reminisced about the years that have passed since her iconic role in Baywatch, expressing that the time between then and her Broadway debut in 2022 is “all a big blur.” “I never thought I would be on stage, receiving an award like that,” she said. “I just want to keep working. I am excited to do more.”
The film The Last Showgirl features Anderson as Shelley, a veteran Las Vegas performer grappling with the abrupt end of her show and what the future holds. “This was the first time I ever read a good script,” Anderson recalled, feeling an instant connection to the role.
Her journey toward this moment began in earnest in 2022 when she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago. The production came about when Rob Marshall, director of the 2002 film adaptation of the musical, encouraged her to try Broadway while she was at a surf contest with her sons. Initially hesitant, Anderson eventually embraced the challenge, calling it “the best thing” she ever did. “You never know what you are capable of until you try,” she reflected.
Anderson’s recent projects, including her memoir Love, Pamela and Ryan White’s documentary Pamela, A Love Story, have played pivotal roles in reshaping public perception of her. “Ryan made that doc and that’s how Gia saw me,” she shared. “It’s great to be a part of pop culture, but it’s a blessing and a curse. People fall in love with you because of a bathing suit. It has taken a long time, but I am here.”
Despite acknowledging the dark years marked by depression, Anderson feels grateful for the experiences that led her to this point. “I don’t think I could have played this character in The Last Showgirl if I wouldn’t have had the life that I had, so it was worth it,” she said. “If I can continue working and using these struggles and challenges … I’ll feel blessed.”
With a newfound sense of purpose and passion, Pamela Anderson is poised to embrace whatever comes next, all while inspiring others through her resilience and creativity.
