Pamela Anderson has been counted out for a long time. Despite getting her start on Baywatch and describing seeking out works from playwrights like Tennessee Williams, she became a sex symbol of the ‘90s rather than the actress she set out to be. 

Now, at 57, Anderson has been in her redemption era. And it almost didn’t happen. 

In 2022, Anderson made her shimmering Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, allowing her to sharpen her acting chops and reintroduce herself to audiences who only thought they knew her from tabloid headlines. However, that same year, Hulu aired a fictionalized and controversial series based on Anderson’s relationship with her ex-husband without consulting her at all. This prompted the Barb Wire actress, along with her two now-grown sons, to take the narrative back. 

After putting out a memoir and a Netflix documentary, the latter led director Gia Coppola to push to have Anderson star as Shelly in The Last Showgirl. Coppola sent Anderson’s agent the script, who rejected the role almost immediately. Thankfully, she didn’t take no for an answer and went to Anderson’s sons instead. (Anderson now has a new agent.) 

It’s difficult to imagine The Last Showgirl with anyone else in the lead role. Anderson fits perfectly into the dreamlike world that her character lives in. Shelly, once the crown jewel of a popular Las Vegas show, struggles after finding out that the Razzle Dazzle is closing. She refuses to come to terms with the fact that the once-sparkling theatrical experience has declined in popularity. 

After watching the film in November, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the character. Anderson’s character is elevated by her relationships with the supporting cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays an aging cocktail waitress, and Billie Lourd, who plays Shelly’s daughter. Since the release, Curtis has mentioned she only joined the film to get to act alongside Anderson. 

Anderson’s shining moment as Shelly arrives when her character is auditioning for another show — attempting to continue her career in Vegas. Despite practicing dance moves for hours at her home, Shelly is told she’s “too old,” prompting all the emotions she’s been bottling to finally break. Anderson delivers a jaw-dropping performance as she mocks the judge and societal ageism, who claimed she wasn’t “sexy” enough, pulling out a wave of anger that most wouldn’t have expected from the soft-spoken actress. 

This moment cemented Anderson’s first Golden Globes nomination, proving that she is finally being recognized for her talent — and has a whole new phase of her life ahead. However, this recognition shouldn’t just stop here. Anderson also deserves to be considered for the Oscars.

2024 was a year of older, once-sexualized actresses returning to popular culture with career-defining roles, between The Substance’s Demi Moore and Maria’s Angelina Jolie. There’s no reason that Anderson shouldn’t be acknowledged for Lead Actress among them.

The Last Showgirl is currently playing in select theaters.
You can find our review of the film here.