Pamela Anderson is rewriting the rules of Hollywood stardom—on her own terms.
In a candid reflection on her career, the former Baywatch icon opened up about missing out on an Oscar nomination, fully embracing a makeup-free lifestyle, and looking back on the “innocence” of the show that made her a global sensation.
On Missing the Oscars: “The Win Is the Work”
At 57, Anderson delivered a critically acclaimed performance in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, where she portrayed an aging Las Vegas performer clinging to the remnants of her past glory. Despite the film’s buzz, her name was missing from the Oscars nomination list. Yet, Anderson remains unfazed.
“The win is the work. You couldn’t have told me I’d be here a decade ago, so this is very exciting for me, to even be in the conversation,” she shared, radiating the same self-assuredness that has defined her career.
On Ditching Makeup: A Bold Rebellion
In a move that has both stunned and inspired fans, Anderson has embraced her natural beauty, showing up to high-profile events completely makeup-free. She first debuted the look at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, making waves by attending the Isabel Marant show bare-faced.
“I didn’t want to compete with the clothes,” she explained, adding that the decision was as much a tribute as it was a personal evolution. The passing of her longtime makeup artist, Alexis Vogel, in 2019 was a turning point. “Since then, I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup.”
For someone who built a career in an industry obsessed with beauty standards, this transformation is nothing short of revolutionary.
On ‘Baywatch’: A Simpler Time
No matter how far she has come, Anderson can never escape Baywatch—and she doesn’t want to. Looking back on her years as lifeguard C.J. Parker, she describes the show as a time of “innocence.”
Yes, the slow-motion beach runs and iconic red swimsuits turned her into a pop culture phenomenon, but Anderson acknowledges that the show’s universal appeal was rooted in its simplicity. Love it or hate it, Baywatch was an era-defining moment in television history.
A New Chapter, Unapologetically Hers
From bombshell to bare-faced beauty, Pamela Anderson continues to evolve in ways that defy expectations. Whether it’s Hollywood recognition or societal norms, she’s proving that she doesn’t need validation—she just needs to be herself.
