The star has announced a ‘definitive’ film about her life, featuring exclusive access, in the wake of the unauthorised Hulu series Pam & Tommy
Pamela Anderson poses during a photo call prior to the a Chanel collection fashion show in 2019. Photograph: François Guillot/AFP/Getty Images
The Guardian-Benjamin Lee
Pamela Anderson has announced an “intimate” and “definitive” new documentary at Netflix.
The actor and activist revealed on Instagram that her years-in-the-making movie would land at the streamer, in the wake of the controversial Hulu series Pam & Tommy, which was made without her approval or involvement.
The statement reads: “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.”
The as-yet-untitled documentary comes from director Ryan White, whose credits include Netflix docuseries The Keepers and 2019’s Ask Dr Ruth; Anderson’s son, Brandon Thomas Lee, will be among the producers. It will feature exclusive access to Anderson as well as to her personal journals.
A Netflix tweet added that the film will “feature the pop culture icon setting the record straight as she looks back on her professional path and her personal journey”.
The announcement comes soon after the launch of Pam & Tommy, the narrative series that relives the fallout from the leaked sex tape between Anderson and Tommy Lee, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan.
Anderson was allegedly contacted by the production for her involvement but was uninterested. “I wish it had been different,” James said in an interview with Porter, adding that she also reached out to Anderson personally. “My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.”
Those close to the former Baywatch actor have claimed that the star is unhappy that the project exists. In May 2021, Courtney Love claimed the existence of the show was causing Anderson “complex trauma”. A source also told Entertainment Tonight that it was “very painful for Pamela Anderson and for anyone that loves her”.