Why Pamela Anderson Embraces a Makeup-Free Look in The Last Showgirl: ‘I Wanted It to Feel Real’ (Exclusive)
Pamela Anderson often embraces a makeup-free lifestyle — a choice reflected in the character she portrays in *The Last Showgirl*.
In an exclusive interview Anderson, 57, opens up about her role as Shelly, a Las Vegas dancer facing the end of her long-running show.
The character largely avoids wearing makeup unless she’s performing, a decision Anderson felt was essential to capturing Shelly’s authenticity.
“I wanted to show Shelly as she truly is, like when she’s heading to the grocery store,” Anderson shares. “I wanted it to feel raw and real. I was ready, prepared, and excited to embrace that simplicity.”
During filming, Anderson even avoided mirrors to stay in character. “I didn’t want to focus on how I looked, except when Shelly was in the showgirl mirrors on set,” she explains.
The former *Baywatch* star and Playboy icon has earned critical acclaim and award buzz for her performance in Gia Coppola’s poignant drama about a woman at a turning point in her life. Anderson says she was eager for a challenging role like Shelly — an opportunity Coppola fought to make happen.
The director went as far as contacting Anderson’s son, Brandon, to deliver the script after Anderson’s agent initially passed on it without informing her.
“When I finally read it, I knew I had to do it. It was such an exciting project,” Anderson reveals. “I also switched agencies after that. I realized I didn’t have an agent who believed in me or had a real vision for my career.
Now I do, but only because *The Last Showgirl* gave me a chance to prove myself.”
Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Anderson admits, “I felt like I’d been pigeonholed and that I’d blown my chances for something like this to come my way.
But this movie gave me a fresh start.”
To prepare for the role, Anderson approached the script as she would a stage play.
“I knew every line, every detail, forwards and backwards before I got to Las Vegas,” she says. “But once on set, I let it all go and trusted Gia to guide me.”
*The Last Showgirl*, featuring an ensemble cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, Billie Lourd, and Kiernan Shipka, premieres in theaters on Friday, January 10.
