If tabloid reports are to be believed, Pamela Anderson is less than impressed with Pam & Tommy, the upcoming Hulu biographical series starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan which charts the leaked sex tape scandal surrounding the Baywatch icon and then-husband Tommy Lee back in the 1990s.
With that in mind, it will probably come as little surprise to hear that – unlike Sebastian Stan who reportedly met with Tommy Lee prior to filming – Pamela Anderson wasn’t so forthcoming when Lily James reached out to her after signing on for the role.
“I was really hopeful that she would be involved,” said James, revealing to Porter that she received no response after reaching out to meet with Anderson. “I wish it had been different. I was very hopeful that we would be in touch right up until we started filming. My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.”
SEE ALSO: Watch the trailer for Pam & Tommy here
James also went on to speak about her transformation for the role, including four hours of make-up each day, adding: “I just had no idea if I could do it. “I’ve never worked so hard. I read the books [Anderson] has written, I read her poetry, I can parrot along to all her interviews. And then, of course, there was the physical transformation. Slowly, our incredible team found a balance where I resembled Pamela but also felt like I could act through it. I’ve never done anything where I look very different from myself before. And I’d really like to continue in this vein, because I felt there was something very freeing and liberating in it. There was a bravery that came from that. A courage that came from… disappearing.”
Set in the Wild West early days of the Internet, “Pam & Tommy” is based on the incredible true story of the Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) sex tape. Stolen from the couple’s home by a disgruntled contractor (Seth Rogen), the video went from underground bootleg-VHS curiosity to full-blown global sensation when it hit the Web in 1997. A love story, crime caper and cautionary tale rolled into one, the eight-part original limited series explores the intersection of privacy, technology and celebrity, tracing the origins of our current Reality TV Era to a stolen tape seen by millions but meant to have an audience of just two.
Pam & Tommy stars Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Taylor Schilling, Andrew Dice Clay, Pepi Sonuga, Spencer Granese, and Mozhan Marnò.
Pam & Tommy will premiere on Hulu in the US and on Star on Disney+ everywhere else on February 2nd 2022.
