Pamela Anderson has returned to the silver screen in what has been called “an emotional and powerful performance” for her starring role in The Last Showgirl. The Vegas-set drama is due for limited release in December, where it’s hoped that the 57-year-old actress can generate Oscar buzz for her performance.
Vegas’ Long Cinematic Tradition
One of the central themes in The Last Showgirl is a veteran performer’s adapting to a changing Las Vegas. Over the past thirty years, the city has provided the backdrop for countless popular films, whether it be the Ocean’s franchise, Terry Gilliam’s surreal Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, or Oscar-winning turn in Leaving Las Vegas.
With the city’s gambling culture always at the forefront, The Last Showgirl’s casino setting is no different. Newcomers to the world could try free slots in anticipation of the film, with thousands of demos offering varying themes and game types without the need for a cash investment. Several of these include adaptations of Vegas casino classics and titles with Vegas themes.
The Last Showgirl Marks a Career Turning Point
After its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, Anderson’s performance in The Last Showgirl was labelled both “remarkable” and a “revelation” by one critic. The film, directed by Gia Coppola, follows Shelly, a Las Vegas showgirl who is forced to find a new job after her long-running stage show is cancelled.
As the character navigates reinvention, she comes up against the harsh realities of a changing entertainment industry. Anderson has said that she was drawn to the role due to parallels within her own career, claiming that she had almost given up on serious acting roles until the script landed in her lap.
Coppola claims that Anderson was the first choice for Shelly, and gave the script to her son to ensure it reached the former Baywatch star. The film has been compared to Mickey Rourke’s Oscar-nominated comeback performance in The Wrestler, a film that catapulted the actor into new heights after decades of being overlooked by the industry.
Critical Acclaim for Performances
Early reviews for the film almost exclusively focused on Anderson’s performance. Indie Wire’s Kate Erbland wrote that the film provides the “role of a lifetime for Anderson, one that can fully capture her incredible emotional intensity and vulnerability.” She continued by saying the actress was a major awards contender.
The supporting cast, which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd, also received considerable praise. Variety’s Peter Debruge Jamie Lee Curtis’s performance as a “force-of-nature” in her role as confidante to Anderson’s Shelly, with Bautista’s turn “uncharacteristically gentle.”
Anderson has described the experience as being transformative and “the catalyst for the rest of my life”. As she embarks on a new chapter, the actress is set to star in a 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun alongside Liam Neeson and ensemble drama Rosebush Pruning from director Karim Aïnouz.
After its limited release in Los Angeles on December 13, the film will be released in Canada and the US on January 10 and the UK in February 2025. If the buzz is anything to go by, this one is not to be missed.