Pamela Anderson had no idea that another pop culture icon, Beyoncé, would pay tribute to her. Anderson, who won praise in his role as a veteran Vegas performer in the upcoming film “The Last Showgirl,” said Variety that Beyoncé’s “Beywatch” video (in which she plays Anderson) – and the attention that resulted from it – was completely unexpected. “I didn’t know she was going to do that,” Anderson says. “I saw it at the same time as everyone else.”

In the video, Beyoncé encouraged people to vote while sporting some of Anderson’s memorable looks from “Baywatch” (complete with a red swimsuit that read “Beywatch”), the cult film “Barb Wire” and the look Anderson’s iconic hat at the 1999 MTV VMA Awards (complete with fluffy pink hat).

It’s just the latest example of Anderson’s resurgence in the cultural zeitgeist. The actress is experiencing a strong comeback in a career where she sometimes had the impression of not feeling seen. “Having created memorable characters full of heart and vulnerability and love…I love seeing those, when those things happen,” she says. “Because we think that at the time, they weren’t really celebrated. But today, looking back, they are still in people’s minds.”

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A day after the election, Anderson stopped by Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast to talk about her new film, “The Last Showgirl,” and much more. Listen below!

Anderson was director Gia Coppola’s first choice for “The Last Showgirl,” but it was a role she almost missed. And it’s not because she hesitated to take on the challenge or bear her soul, but simply because her agent at the time failed to pass on the script to her. It was also the star’s son, Brandon Thomas Lee, who brought the project to him.

Anderson doesn’t remember the exact details, but says Lee saw the script on a desk and asked him questions. “This person just didn’t seem to think that I would want to do it, that it wasn’t enough money or that it wasn’t something I was capable of,” Anderson says. But there are no hard feelings and she believes that for good things, you have to fight. “I think there’s always an obstacle and that was the obstacle – it almost didn’t reach me. So it was meant to be, but I had to fight for it.

In the film, Anderson plays Shelley, a veteran Las Vegas entertainer who learns that her show is ending after 30 years. At 57, she finds herself auditioning for the first time in years while trying to reconnect with her daughter, played by Billie Lourd. The cast also includes Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka as showgirls, as well as Jamie Lee Curtis – virtually unrecognizable behind orange makeup to replicate a bad tan job.

Anderson actually saw Curtis change color before his eyes when they first met at the reading table. “She just grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes and said, ‘We’re doing this.’ And then she says, “I did this for you.” I hope you know that,” Anderson recalled. “She had just gotten a spray tan. And as I talked to him, his orange color deepened.

The role resonated with Anderson for many reasons. Although she didn’t consider a career in acting, Anderson’s journey began when she was spotted wearing a Labatt beer t-shirt on a Jumbotron at a Columbia Lions football game. British. This led her to become a brand spokesperson, model for Playboy, and join shows like “Home Improvement” and “Baywatch.”

Although she was considered one of the greatest sex symbols of all time, she had drawbacks, including the typecasting and then theft of a private tape of herself and her then-husband Tommy Lee. But Anderson has an optimistic view of the past: “I’ve been through a lot in public and I’m glad I still have a good sense of humor and no bitterness,” she notes. “I always say I have a beautiful, messy life that I can draw inspiration from. All these experiences don’t define me, it’s what I do that will define me.

In recent years, people have been able to see Anderson in a new light. This could be due to the Hulu limited series “Pam and Tommy,” in which she has no involvement. But in 2023, Anderson released her documentary “Pamela, A Love Story” and her memoir “Love, Pamela,” in which she told her own story with unflinching honesty.

Anderson admits that there was a time when she “didn’t want to be compared to my past and I didn’t want that to keep coming back.” But now, she notes, “It’s a blessing to be a part of pop culture.” It’s a blessing and a bit of a curse, because you have to overcome that if you want to become an actress and play other characters. I hope “The Last Showgirl” will be something completely new that people will see me in and enjoy.

When asked how it felt to see people realize that maybe they had misjudged or underestimated her, Anderson replied, “Well, I hope people see this movie and will really love it because all these feelings that I have felt over the last 30 years, I was able to express them. in this movie. And it’s good that people are reacting.

Also on this episode of the Awards Circuit podcast, Clayton Davis speaks with “Dune: Part Two” composer Hans Zimmer. And the roundtable examines how “Wicked” could shake up the Oscar race.

Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and TV. Each episode, “Awards Circuit,” features interviews with top talent and creatives in film and television, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you download podcasts.

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