Pamela Anderson, who was back on screen and all over the awards circuit with last year in Gia Coppola’s film The Last Showgirl, said today that “vanity is a prison” as she accepted a Muse Award at New York Women in Film & Television’s 45th annual luncheon ceremony, in her now signature no-makeup look.
The Canadian-born actress opened her remarks with nod to “universal, free and fair healthcare” after noting that her father had just undergone cancer surgery. It went “smoothly and he had all the aftercare he needed,” said Anderson, who has dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship. She mentioned it because her appearance at the event, at Cipriani midtown, had been touch and go given his situation. She thanked “a blessed and generous Canadian health care system.”
She left it there. (U.S.-Canada relations are at a low due to Trump administration tariffs.)
On her move to meatier roles and a simpler look, the former Playboy cover girl and Baywatch star said she realized that “I didn’t need to be the prettiest girl in the room.” It was freeing. “Now, I am looking forward to my next projects fearlessly. I have nothing to lose. I am grateful I have been given this chance.”
“To feel what it’s like to be rooted for is a nice feeling,” she added. “But then it’s time to press on.”
In The Last Showgirl, Anderson stars a Shelley, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run. Her performance was nominated for a Golden Globe, SAG and Gotham Award, among others.
Anderson’s renaissance began in 2022 with her Broadway debut playing Roxie Hart in Chicago.
Upcoming projects include appearing with Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ Naked Gun reboot. Previous credits include Scary Movie 3, Superhero Movie and a Baywatch redux with Dwyane Johnson. She has a cooking show, Pamela’s Cooking With Love for Food Network Canada and a home renovation series, Pamela’s Garden of Eden, at HGTV Canada.
Also honored by NYWIFT this year: actor and activist Marissa Bode; director and producer Lisa Cortés; producer Celia Costas,; Amy Entelifs, EVP Talent, CNN Originals and Creative Development, CNN Worldwide; and Versha Sharma, Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue.
