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- The SKY Magazine Interview -
(About Barb Wire)
Pamela Anderson is pregnant. Very pregnant. Yet despite her very
pregnant and very married state, there's not a diamond rock in sight,
just that infamous Tommy tattoo in tiny blue letters on her wedding finger.
When we meet, Pammy is dressed head to toe in a white lace maternity dress
-- with not a hint of cleavage on show -- and knee-length patent leather
boots. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a kind of unkempt haystack
that looks like it took her all of three seconds to construct. Four graduating
shades of blonde poke through the pile-up, from beach-blonde to decidedly
darker roots. It's another stinking hot LA spring afernoon and Pammy is
in good form -- giggly and eager to talk -- probably because we're not
here to talk about Baywatch, but her new role in Barb Wire, a film based
on a cartoon strip. In it, Pammy gets to make some jokes and ride a motorcycle
quite a lot. It's a gutsy, ballsy role and she took it by her manager
(who is now incidentally her ex-manager). But Pamela took on look at the
script and thought -- and I quote -- "Absofrigginlutely!"
Will Barb Wire prove to people that there's more to Pamela Anderson
than her chest?
I think people will be surprised because Barb Wire is a far cry from CJ
on Baywatch. I don't think anyone's going to be robbing my house anytime
soon!
What about all these stories we read about your private life?
Well, you're from England so you must have read all those terrible tabloid
stories. Stories there are so sensational that there's really nothing
you can do except laugh. I've seen a few of them myself and I was like:
"WHAAT?" I hope people get a good laugh out of that tabloid
stuff, because they've go to know it's not true.
How much of the real Pamela Anderson do we see?
There's no way I set out to be a certain kind of symbol -- the way I dress
is the way I am, is the way I live my life. I'm not trying to be anything
that I'm not. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy my life to the fullest, I've
always been like that. My old manager used to say, "You should be
doing these kinds of movies and this kind," and I said, "Who
are you talking to?" I'm lucky to do any movie. At this point in
my career, this is just a great opportunity.
How tough are you?
I think this business is very tough. Barb Wire is very tough, she gets
what she wants. She's ruthless in a lot of ways, she has her tactics and
she uses everything she has to the maximum. It's kind of the way you have
to be in this business and so I just kind of looked at it shooting down
ex-managers, ex-lawyers, ex-accountants...
...and journalists?
Oh yeah, definately, you guys and the paparazzi.
What scares you?
Well, in this film, they hung me 80 feet in the air with a crane and there
was this car and a motorcycle scrunched together and the bad guy and me
were having a huge fight. I did do my own stunts and I'm afraid of heights.
There's a point where I fall off the car and I'm dangling. That's all
me. There's another where I'm hanging of the edge of a helicopter. That
was scary.
The costumes probably don't, er, hold too much in do they?
One of my biggest worries the whole time was that I was going to fall
out of the costumes. Fortunately, I didn't, I had this corset that made
my waist 17 inches and I had these stiletto heels. Trying to kickbox in
that outfit, let me tell you, nothing wanted to move.
Are you bothered about your performance being slagged off?
Well, it's my first feature... I've been on television for four years
and I think I've learned a lot on the show. It's very difficult on Baywatch:
if the scene is in focus, they print it. You get one shot. On the movie,
I get a few tries on things so that was kind of fun. It was hard, though
-- I worked 18-hour days. You can only be as good as the story, the director,
the editor and all the other people involved. There are so many components.
All I did was help tell the story but there are so many dimensions to
the movie. I think it's great but it's really out of my hands. I'm very
happy with it and I just hope people like it.
Do you object being called a babe?
Personally, I don't mind. My husband calls me "Babe" and I haven't
shot him yet.
Were the Baywatch people pissed off when you showed up on the set with
the Barb Wire tattoo?
Oh no, they just cover it up. I don't think I could make Baywatch mad
at me because they're like my family. They've been really good for me.
They're totally supportive of my marriage, my pregnancy and this movie.
They're wonderful people and it's such a pleasure to work on the show.
I can't wait to get back.
And are you planning to get any more tattoos?
No, I wanted to get my belly button pierced but I thought it would look
funny while I'm pregnant. Tommy is saving a big place over his heart,
though, for a family tattoo.
Is it true that Tommy has a Pamela tattoo on his willy?
I'n not allowed to tell you because I got in trouble for that. He said:
"Look, will you stop talking about my penis!" I always end up
talking about Tommy's penis.
We'll take that as a "Yes" then.
Weeeeell... [giggles]
Has money made you happy?
Well, I had kind of a poor upbringing and my mother and father used to
say "Oh, if we only had money, if we only had this, everything would
be better." I started to think that way too. I used to think: "Boy,
if we only had money, everyone would be happy." And then you realise
that to make money there's a certain innocence you have to give up. You
really have to sacrifice a lot, and I would not wish that on my familly
at all. People take advantage of you -- I've learnt this. I came here
by myself, from Canada to Los Angeles, without my family, without any
business people in my life, coming to do photos for Playboy and signing
my life away every time I did anything. You don't realise what you're
signing or doing and you have a naivity about you until you get screwed,
or someone doesn't pay you and suddenly they're holding you to ransom.
You realise you're in this cut-throat business and you have to survive
somehow, so all of a sudden you become this business woman. You have to
be mean to people and start demanding things. It's difficult, very difficult.
How did you start out?
I never intended to be in the business. I was in Vancouver at a football
game and someone asked me to pose for Playboy. My boyfriend at the time
said: "Absolutely not!" The worst thing you can do is tell me
NOT to do something.
So did you dump him?
Yeah, but that came afterwards. Playboy wanted me to fly to Los Angeles
and shoot me for the cover. They said: "If we like the shots, we'll
print them. If not, well, thank you for coming." So I did it and
told them to phone me when they knew for sure. And I hung up. I thought:
"It's all up to fate now. If they call me back and want me to be
on the cover, great." I said to my boyfriend: "If they don't,
I'll stay here and be miserable with you for the rest of my life and you
can tell me at for all these stupid things."
Can you walk anywhere without being recognised?
Not so much anymore. I love it when little kids come up to me and they're
dressed like little CJs. I get a real kick out of that.
Is it true you have a swing at home which you sit on naked while Tommy
plays the piano?
Oh yes. I'm still going on my swing.
Do you ever wish you could have some privacy?
I just wish there were times when you could shut it off -- where you're
in the hospital, or sick, or when you're trying to resolve some of your
own personal issues and there are people around you all the time. That's
when you miss privacy. But you do have to realise that when you're in
the business, this is what happens. I'm grateful for what I do and I know
it's all part of the business, that sacrifice you make. It's not really
a sacrifice, though, it's part of your work that people want to know about
your personal life.
What's the worst intrusion?
I feel bad going anywhere, because I think people must look at us and
go: "Ugh, it's them! I can't believe they're here. I've heard about
them way too much."
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