Pamela Anderson opens up about depression and newfound clarity

The actress, known for her role in "Baywatch," admitted during the Zurich Film Festival that she had suffered from decades of depression. Pamela Anderson is currently promoting her new film "The Last Showgirl" and celebrating her receipt of the prestigious Golden Eye award.

"I never thought I would be on stage, receiving an award like that," she confessed during the festival in Zurich.

In her speech, she referred to her time starring in the hit "Baywatch." "I look at it now, and it feels like I went from Baywatch to Broadway. I don't know what happened in between, it's all a big blur," Anderson said, adding that only now is she beginning to understand how long she struggled with depression.

Anderson's significant return to the film industry began in 2023 with the documentary "Pamela, A Love Story" and the autobiography "Love, Pamela." "I always knew I was capable of more," she emphasized. However, she admitted that fame brought both benefits and challenges. "It's great to be a part of pop culture, but it's a blessing and a curse. People fall in love with you because of a bathing suit," she added.

Pamela also spoke about her childhood and humble beginnings in British Columbia. She grew up as a rebellious child inspired by her Finnish grandfather. He taught her that the world doesn't end in the small town she came from. It's uncommon for people to leave on the island, but when they do, it always stirs up conversation. Anderson humorously added that they provided plenty of gossip without asking for anything.

Pamela also recalled her early days on the set of "Baywatch." She felt insecure about her first scenes with David Hasselhoff and didn't know what to do: "I was playing saxophone and he was looking at my forehead," she confessed.

Anderson doesn't hide that the difficult experiences from her personal life helped her build the character in her new film. I think I have been getting ready my whole life for this role," she assured me. The actress focused on "rewriting her story." Buying and renovating her grandmother's house helped her in this endeavor.

Receiving the script for "The Last Showgirl" was a breakthrough moment for Pamela. She fondly recalls working with Jamie Lee Curtis, who also stars in the film. They quickly formed a bond. "She showed up to the table read in her spray tan and as she was talking to me, she was getting darker, and darker, and darker. Now, I feel like I’ve known her all my life," Anderson recalled.

For three decades, Shelley (Pamela Anderson) has performed as a dancer in a strip revue in Las Vegas. She treats her work as a form of art. Although she has mastered her craft, the show's directors decide to replace her with a younger model. Shelley faces the dilemma: what to do next with her life, as her greatest asset — her body — has ceased to be attractive?

The film won an award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival (Special Jury Prize) and was shown at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.