Pamela Anderson Talks New Dark Comedy ‘Rosebush Pruning,’ Second Chances & If ‘Baywatch’ Revisit Is In The Cards

Since her critically acclaimed role in 2024’s The Last Showgirl, Pamela Anderson‘s acting career has been moving in a new direction. With decades devoted to more mainstream roles befitting of the blonde bombshell, Anderson now embraces projects that both challenge and scare her.

Up next, she stars in the satirical dark comedy Rosebush Pruning, as part of a star-studded ensemble that also includes Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Elena Anaya and Lukas Gage. The film, directed by Karim Aïnouzhits and written by Efthimis Filippou, hits select theaters across the U.S. today.

Rosebush Pruning follows a rich American family that lives in hedonistic isolation in Spain, seeking love and validation through one another, their designer wardrobes, and pop music. When an outsider infiltrates the family, buried tensions surface and blood ties are severed. 

While on a break from working on her garden at home, Anderson spoke to Deadline about the evolution of her career, proving herself in an industry that can often be unforgiving, and whether or not a return to Baywatch is in the stars.

“I love the film Rosebush Pruning because I read the script and I knew Karim and his work, of which I was a big fan, and of the other people that are involved. It was like the hot movie. Everybody wanted to be in it, and it was just so odd and provocative. It was also great that Karim got to work with Efthimis, who normally just works with Yorgos [Lanthimos]. That was an odd and interesting pairing too,” shared Anderson.

The film will keep viewers on the edge of their seats with shocking twists and turns. Anderson plays the deceased family matriarch who lost her life after a pack of wolves savagely gobbled her up, leaving nearly nothing behind to be buried. She is, however, immortalized in concrete, as a naked woman atop a pretty empty grave outside their home. The family routinely visits the site, a tradition that’s often the cause of emotional outbursts.

“There are shocking things that happen in the film to tell the story, but it’s not gratuitous. It’s just random. I think there is something to be said about this level of wealth and vapidness, the lack of empathy and awareness in this world,” the Canadian native said.

Adding, “I remember when I came to Los Angeles, and people just talked about money. I thought, add zeros, add zeros. Like, someone let me think it’s $100, but they were talking about millions. I tried to find my way to navigate it all because it was way out of my depth. I’m so happy that I have had the life that I’ve had, and that I come from where I’ve come from, so I can kind of appreciate things in a different way.”

Anderson took a quick trip down memory lane during the conversation, reflecting on how she couldn’t have imagined back then how her life would turn out. From her early credits in fan-favorite projects like Baywatch, Home Improvement, Barbwire, to the E! reality series Pam: Girl on the Loose, and two stints on Dancing With the Stars, they are fun experiences she remembers fondly. But today, she’s moving on a totally different wavelength.

“I felt like I had dug a hole for myself when I was younger. It was great to be able to be in these popular TV shows and get all this attention. Then the way my personal life went and how it became tabloid fodder, I couldn’t see a serious film career for me or anyone offering me a dramatic role. But it was so nice that I got to play Roxie in Chicago on Broadway, and my son made this documentary on my life [Netflix’s Pamela, a Love Story], and it reintroduced me to people in a different way,” Anderson stated.

She added, “Then [director] Gia [Coppola] was persistent and got me to do The Last Showgirl, and I haven’t stopped since. It’s been great having indie film directors see me about really great projects. I’ve been really lucky.”

Of this latest evolution, she is resolute in that she will not take anything for granted. Up next, she has a lineup of finished movies soon to be released: Place to Be from director Kornél Mundruczó, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival; Michael Cera’s feature directorial debut Love is Not the Answer; Somedays, starring opposite Billy Bob Thornton; the Sally Potter-directed Alma; and playing Guy Pierce’s love interest in Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia’s Queen of the Falls.

“So now I figure, this is my second chance, or whatever you want to call it, and I’m not taking it for granted. I have nothing to lose, and I’m going to do everything to my utmost capability. I also want to see things through to the end. It’s very important when you do a movie, even if it’s a very small part, that you promote it. You have to because so many people are depending on you. I’m very proud of my work. And with this difficult time for theaters and the movie industry, we have to promote for each other, not just ourselves.”

With this new phase of her career going strong, there’s a lingering question about the past. Anderson’s best known for her portrayal of C.J. Parker in the 90s series Baywatch, which is currently being rebooted by Fox starring Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell and Brooks Nader. With stars from the original series like David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak returning to Venice, would Anderson consider appearing on the new show if she were approached?

“No one’s reached out to me. I don’t know much about it. I know that they were talking to my sons at some point about producing, but I don’t think they had a meeting of the minds. I’m not sure what happened there, but I wish them well. It was a great job, and I loved going to work every day on the beach. I would have been there anyway. [Laughs] At the time, it taught me a lot, and it gave me worldwide exposure. Everything I’ve done has led me to here, which is a blessing. But I have no plans of going back to Baywatch,” she said.

When asked if she wasn’t curious about what became of C.J., she added, “If my kids were involved, I probably would have listened to them. I think I’ve just got to keep on seeing what else is out there. I get that there’s a lot of really great TV out there right now, but I’ve already done that. Now is my time to really play with different characters. I don’t want to just fill my time until the end of the year. I have options, and some things I’m thinking about, including some theater again. I want to make really bold choices. I want to surprise people. I want to surprise myself. And so I’m trying to do things I haven’t done in the past.”