Last January, Pamela Anderson was back in the pop culture conversation when her memoir and a Netflix documentary about her life were released simultaneously. In the latter, she appeared a few times completely devoid of makeup, stripping away all the artifice she’d been known to wear at the peak of her career as the blond bombshell in the ’90s. Appearances with the same freshly scrubbed face at fashion shows later in the year followed and slowly, the world started looking at Anderson in a completely new light. 

Now, at the age of 57, the Canadian star is experiencing the career resurgence she never expected. “My plan B was to just go to my garden, make jam and pickles the rest of my life and be a grandma,” Anderson says while in Toronto for TIFF, seated in a room at The Four Seasons in a black shirt, cropped black pants and black pointy toed heels. From partnerships to campaigns, she’s suddenly in demand again, including as an ambassador for jewellery brand Pandora. And now comes her first big leading role of this era: The Last Showgirl. Directed by Gia Coppola, the film centres on a 30-year veteran performer named Shelley, who finds herself at a crossroads when her Las Vegas show permanently closes and she’s forced to figure out what’s next. We spoke to Anderson about this next stage of her career, why she had to do this film and the whole “no makeup” thing.

How much did you know about lab diamonds before you signed with Pandora?

“I’ve always felt uncomfortable wearing a lot of jewellery or big pieces or anything because I know there’s some harm to the environment. That’s why it was really a thoughtful move to work with [Pandora] because they use all recycled materials. They’re just really thoughtful in what they do which is rare with such a massive brand. So it’s nice that they’re bringing that to a young generation too. I remember my kids used to buy all the charms for their girlfriends. I just think it’s approachable, it’s accessible and I feel comfortable wearing it because it’s not over the top.”

What was like the most surprising thing you learned about lab-grown diamonds compared to mined ones?

“That they’re exactly the same. You can’t tell the difference between the two. I think it’s an interesting analogy to say there’s cars that run on gasoline and cars that are electric. So it’s a similar thing with diamonds.”

Norman Wong

Pamela Anderson wears two custom Pandora pieces: 16” Era Necklace 0.1ct stones / 3.0mm & 2ct Era Earrings

What did you think when you read the script for The Last Showgirl?

“I knew that I had to do it. Gia said that when she figured out that she wanted me to play it: ‘We’re not even doing it without you.’ I’ve never had a feeling like that when I’ve read a script. I’ve never really had any great scripts given to me in the past. But after the documentary and the book came out, she saw me in a new light and thought, ‘This is my Shelley.’ I remember when I called her, I said, ‘I have to do this,’ and she went, ‘You don’t have to sell me on it. I want you to do it!’ And I was like, ‘Are you sure you want me to do it? Do you think I can pull this off?’ I really needed to do it for my soul. I needed to do it because I know I’m capable of so much more than I’ve done in the past. And so it was something for me to see what I’m made of. And I just threw myself into it.”

The character you played has to figure out what her second act is. Did you relate to that?

“I think that’s the big question for everybody when you get to a certain age. When I was younger, I realized that my trajectory as an actress was kind of sidelined and it just wasn’t gonna happen. And then I went into this deep, dark depression almost for a couple of decades. So this has been such a great healing experience; to be able to do the film and to be able to reclaim the narrative, the truth, and be able to work. Films, I kind of thought, ‘Oh, I’m never gonna be able to do that. But I always knew that I could do it. 

“I was lucky that in my earlier career, I could write my children’s baseball schedules into my contracts. I wasn’t missing anything. But now that they’re grown and people are calling me now to do film, I have the focus. I don’t have a crazy jealous boyfriend or husband. I have no distractions. This is my time to really be married to my work, so it’s really exciting. But I relate obviously to the character of Shelly—her vulnerability, her eternal optimism. It was hard for her to believe that it was over. I’m really fortunate at this point to have this second chapter. I’m so grateful for it.” 

Was there a moment you realized your second act was happening?

“I think it started with the documentary and then the book. And I think the me going out with no makeup, I just felt like, ‘What am I doing?’ I didn’t plan on anyone noticing that I was, I’m not rebranding, I’m just being me. If I wear lipstick, are people gonna like me more? Plus I thought, ‘I’m not there anymore. I’m just not gonna play the game.’

“My mom even said ‘Pamela, can you put an eye on anything? And I said, ‘No, not right now.’ I don’t know what I’m gonna do in the future, but right now this is it. Today I have a lip. I’ve kind of peeled it all back. And now I’m gonna slowly build to what I want to create. I think that’s the fun part about this, this time in a woman’s life. We don’t have to look like we did when we were in our 20s.”

Do you think not wanting to play the game comes with age?

“I was always a little rebellious and I don’t know if I ever even really played the game correctly. That’s why this is so shocking—that I get to be in this position now because I just paved my own path. As a young girl, I never felt like a classic beauty anyway. So I didn’t have to fall far from grace.”

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