Pamela Anderson announced today that she will be telling her true story in a new documentary set to release on Netflix. Anderson had no involvement in the new eight-part limited series, Pam and Tommy which chronicles a difficult chapter in her life and was developed without her permission. This unfortunately isn't the first time Anderson has faced a lack of consent in regards to her experiences and expressed zero interest in having anything to do with the Hulu show because of it.
The Canadian actress got her start on Home Improvement's show-within-a-show, Tool Time, playing the secondary cast member and "Tool Girl," Lisa. Anderson was soon cast as C.J. Parker in the hit series, Baywatch, remaining on the show for four seasons, and the role propelled her into fame. In 1996, two years after her Baywatch debut, she founded the Pamela Anderson Foundation and began her dedicated journey of aiding charitable organizations. Continuing to act throughout the years, Anderson has starred in several TV shows, one of which was Stan Lee’s Stripperella, and in 2017, she reprised her role as C.J. in the rebooted Baywatch film. Though Anderson has yet to write a direct memoir about her life, she has authored a few books: Star and Star Struck are semi-autobiographical novels while Raw is a behind-the-scenes look at her life, featuring a decades worth of photography by Emma Dunlavey alongside Anderson's original prose and poetry.
But today, Netflix announced on Twitter that Anderson is finally ready to tell her true story. The film has been several years in the making and will be released on the streaming service, but no official date has been reported yet. Directed by Ryan White (The Case Against 8 and Ask Dr. Ruth), it will be an intimate look into Anderson's personal and professional life, through her own perspective, and will feature archival footage as well as personal journals. Anderson shared a handwritten statement alongside the news, which can be read below:
"My life/ A thousand imperfections/ A million misperceptions/ Wicked, wild and lost/ Nothing to live up to /I can only surprise you /Not a victim, but a survivor /And alive to tell the real story."
Being a public figure and common subject in the tabloids for much of her career, Anderson has dealt with unfair and unkind treatment often, particularly when overcoming controversies in her life. Yet, she remains a self-described "eternal optimist," and for over two decades has continued to use her platform to help those in need. Her philanthropic efforts are numerous, including PETA, Choose Love, Love is Respect, and her organization has won several awards, the Linda McCartney among them.
After years of enduring her story being told by others, this upcoming documentary will be a powerful moment and consenting opportunity for Anderson to speak her truth and set the record straight about her own life. The philanthropist has had to contend with much misogyny over the years, and it will be important for her to not only speak about it in her own words, but for audiences to hear them as well. Hopefully, a release date will be shared soon along with more information about can be expected from Pamela Anderson's new - and fully approved - documentary.
Source: Netflix