The Last Showgirl – Anderson Revisited
Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie
Though it’s evident that we still live in a relentlessly misogynistic world in most respects, some interesting progress has been in our habitual revisiting of the terrible treatment of highly sexualised female stars of the 90s and 00s. From #FreeBritney to Jeanette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, the expectations placed on women in this period and earlier has been under scrutiny. In other words, a Pamela Anderson comeback in a role that showcases the depths beyond her famous surface is unsurprising, but certainly welcome.
From Francis Ford’s granddaughter Gia Coppola, The Last Showgirl mobilises Pam’s unique star power to examine how modern society exploits and casts aside sexy playthings from its toybox when they lose their perceived shine, condemning them to invisibility and silence long before their life is over. Anderson stars as the titular 57-year-old showgirl, a performer whose Vegas revue has been running for three decades. Backed up by an ensemble supporting cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, and Jason Schwartzman, Coppola paints a nuanced picture of aging in the spotlight with a careful directorial hand – but Anderson, with her vulnerable approach and relatability, is the beating heart of this movie.
Centring on the raw core behind her glossy exterior – and surely angering the Facebook users who, for some reason, are personally offended by Anderson’s makeup free face at red carpet appearances for the film – The Last Showgirl gives Pam the chance to shine in ways you’ve never seen before.
See The Last Showgirl on the 28th Mar, 1st - 3rd April.
