Mae West.
Marilyn Monroe.
Jean Harlow.
Every generation has a blonde starlet they cling to and worship to the point of iconic status, and Pamela Anderson fits the bill. But in a star-making turn that arrives 30 years after she first burst onto the scene, The Last Showgirl finally proves beyond all doubt that she’s in possession of both style AND substance.
Credit director Gia Coppola (yes, of the Coppola dynasty) and screenwriter Kate Gersten for placing Anderson at the forefront of this titillating drama that finds Anderson playing against type in a role that seemingly she was destined to play – eventually. When the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, audiences were blown away with the depiction of ageism, sexism, and the realities that life hurls one’s way on a career built on the physical.
The story takes place in the City of Sin – Las Vegas – and follows Shelly as she navigates life towards the end of her career as a showgirl at the once magnificent, but now crumbling Le Razzle Dazzle. Every star must eventually fade, however, and now at 57, Anderson’s Shelly has to come to grips with being replaced by younger dancers and stepping to the side of the spotlight as the sun sets on her career. When the show is unexpectedly halted to make way for a tiger act, Shelly must confront societal expectations on the sex appeal of older women, the lease on her own dreams, and the complicated relationships that emerge as a result from life choices.
The Last Showgirl will speak to entertainers that are still in the game but coming to grips with the realities of age as Shelly’s heartbreak is undeniable. She is gorgeous, she is engaging, but there is an unspoken fear there of someone being left behind. Anderson brings the character to life as she injects her own life history into the narrative – a move that makes the story all the more gripping, haunting, and ultimately triumphant.
A Compelling Cast of Characters Energize the Script
Dave Bautista is steadily turning into a powerful character actor, and he shines here as Eddie, Le Razzle Dazzle’s moody stage manager and Shelly’s confidant. Kiernan Shipka and Brenda Song bring depth as Shelly’s younger co-workers, representing the dreams, peaks and valleys of what befalls – or will befall – up and coming performers. Jamie Lee Curtis – who is in the midst of a career uptick – barrels into the film as a former showgirl-turned-cocktail waitress who has more resilience than anyone should dare to ever possess. And as Shelly’s estranged daughter Hannah, Billie Lourd brings a dynamic to the relationship that comes across as raw and relatable, reflecting the sacrifices and regrets connected to a mother dedicating her life to career over motherhood.
Pamela Anderson’s Triumph
Despite a stellar cast, there is no mistaking that Anderson is the heart and soul of the film, and in this capacity, she truly shines. In The Last Showgirl, she removes herself from the earlier depictions in her career as a caricature and transforms into what she always desired to be – taken seriously as an actress. There are no remnants of Baywatch to be seen here as Anderson brings forth all the emotions associated with aging in an industry intent on discarding any woman over forty. It is in her vulnerability and determination that viewers are enticed to cheer her on, even if her path isn’t the safest.
Style and Substance Converge
Pamela Anderson has beguiled the critics for this performance and in a year that has women over a certain age switching up the narrative to praise (see Demi Moore’s The Substance for further proof), it is refreshing to see her name in this year’s Oscar race as well as her nomination at the 2025 Golden Globes for Best Actress. Is The Last Showgirl a cautionary tale or tale of inspiration? Wherever viewers fall on the spectrum, there is no denying that it is a film worth seeing for the performances alone, and the resilience of Pamela Anderson to take risks this late in her career – proof that true artistry knows no age.
