'Pamela, A Love Story' Aims to Finally Set the Record Straight
It’s been 27 years since Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s sex tape was stolen and leaked online. Since then, their story has been retold countless times as a cautionary tale. Now, Anderson is ready to set the record straight. In Netflix's upcoming documentary Pamela, A Love Story, the actress and model speaks about the infamous tape and how it affected her career, personal life, and image in the media.
The first trailer for the film debuted today. "I'm not the damsel in distress," Anderson says in the teaser. "I put myself in crazy situations and survived them." Unlike the recent Hulu series, Pam & Tommy, the documentary has been billed as an accurate depiction of Anderson's life, backed up by exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage. Reportedly, there’s no fiction to it, no dramatized events or heavily curated scenes—just Anderson, her two sons, a bunch of home tapes, and a story you thought you knew.
According to Vanity Fair, Anderson began working on the project years ago, during which she learned about Pam & Tommy. The actress was reportedly blindsided by the project. She did not consent to its production or sign off on the plot. But now, with the help of Emmy-nominated documentarian, Ryan White, Anderson has the chance to tell her story on her own terms. “I blocked that stolen tape out of my life to survive,” Anderson reveals in the trailer. “And now that it’s coming up again, I feel sick. I want to take control of the narrative for the first time.”
In advance of its January 31 premiere, keep reading for everything you need to know about Pamela, A Love Story.
Pamela Anderson’s Sons Encouraged Her to Make a Documentary
Director, Ryan White revealed that Anderson’s sons Brandon (26) and Dylan (24) convinced her to make the documentary. “They adore their mother and really hate seeing her story being told by other people in a way that they don’t feel is authentic to who she is,” White said. “Pamela, by nature, is an incredibly open and honest person. That’s perhaps why Pamela’s gotten burned a lot in her life, but I also think that’s what’s so lovable and infectious about her.”
Brandon and Dylan are Andersons only children, whom she had with her infamous ex-husband, Tommy Lee. Over the years, they’ve had a tumultuous relationship with their father and remained close to their mother. “Brandon can talk me into anything with his sincere heart and a fierceness that only a son could have,” Anderson said. “He wanted me to tell my story, authentically and without distortion.”
Pamela, A Love Story Unveils A New Side of the Actress
Though Anderson has been a topic of conversation for decades, few actually understand who she is. Pamela, A Love Story gave Anderson an opportunity to rewrite the narrative and share the context behind people's assumptions of her. In order to create a well-rounded picture, Anderson shared decades of home movies and journals with the filmmakers.
According to White, she also agreed to be completely candid, which is why he decided to helm the project. “I feel like a lot of them are about brand management or selling a product, whatever that may be,” White said of celebrity documentaries. “Pamela’s the opposite of that.” Anderson told him, “You can ask me anything. I will talk about anything. I will be nothing but honest with you about it all.” Her raw honesty, as White explained, “made for a really emotional film.”
Anderson Talks About the “Stolen Tape”
In 1996—before going viral was even a thing—Anderson and Lee became a public spectacle, after their private sex tape was stolen and sold online. The tape generated millions of sales and completely derailed the couple's lives. Lee’s musical career continued without much harm, but Anderson struggled to be taken seriously as an actress.
“Nobody knew the truth—even I don’t know 100% of what happened,” Anderson said. “But I think what is most important is to share my human feelings and how much it hurt and how it undeniably defined me moving forward in my career and my relationships.”
Pamela, A Love Story Includes Exclusive Interviews With Her Exes
In order to piece the story together, White spoke with Anderson's ex-husbands. “Pamela wears her heart on her sleeve—not just in relationships but in all things in her life,” White said. “All of her husbands are part of her story, so they’re in our film, including the most recent one. And no matter how many times it hasn’t worked out for her, she still is a hopeless romantic and looking for true love in every way.”
According to White, he originally thought Pamela, A Love Story would take a look at Anderson’s fascinating origin story. But as the documentary came together, he realized it was a broader story about love and loss. During the film's production, Anderson and her latest husband, Dan Hayhurst, divorced. That led Anderson to discuss all of her past relationships, in painful detail, on camera. “I’m a romantic, and romance is tragedy. I believe in fairytales,” Anderson explained to Vanity Fair.
Anderson Doesn’t Plan On Watching the Film
The actress told Vanity Fair that she hasn’t seen the movie—and doesn’t intend to, either. “The documentary I haven’t seen, and I have no intention of seeing,” she said. “I gave full access to my archives and diaries, and I hope that through full transparency, it makes sense to somebody."
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