Jamie Lee Curtis Wanted to Be in ‘The Last Showgirl’ to Work With Pamela Anderson.
Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, didn't hesitate when director Gia Coppola, 37, invited her to join the drama The Last Showgirl. During a post-screening Q&A, Curtis revealed that her primary motivation for taking the role was the opportunity to work alongside Pamela Anderson, 57, who was cast as the film's titular "The Last Showgirl."
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Jamie Lee Curtis opened up about her decision to join The Last Showgirl, sharing that the chance to work with Pamela Anderson, who plays the title character, was a major draw. The film, which tells the story of Shelly, a veteran showgirl in Las Vegas, explores themes of reinvention, struggle, and the fading glamour of the entertainment world. Curtis, playing Annette, a former showgirl turned cocktail waitress, gives an emotionally charged performance, particularly during an impromptu dance scene. With The Last Showgirl earning two Golden Globe nominations, the film has captivated audiences with its raw portrayal of women in the entertainment industry.
"The truth is I wanted to be in this because it was called 'The Last Showgirl' and Pamela Anderson was going to play the last showgirl," Curtis said during the Roadside Attractions film screening at CAA in Los Angeles. The story follows Shelly, a 57-year-old showgirl in Las Vegas who’s been performing in the same show for years. When the new casino owners decide to shut down the show, Shelly, alongside her fellow dancers, must face the reality of their fading careers. Curtis plays Annette, a former showgirl battling alcohol and gambling issues, who now works as a cocktail waitress at the casino.
A Dance of Emotion
When asked about preparing for the role, Curtis humorously shared that she had to get a spray tan for the first time. "I can now say I’ve checked that box — pun intended, as they covered me from head to toe," she laughed. But it was her emotionally powerful performance as Annette that truly stood out. One particularly poignant moment in the film shows Annette dancing alone in the casino to Bonnie Tyler’s "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Initially, this scene wasn’t in the script, but Coppola decided to add it just before the first table read. Curtis recalled, “Gia came over and said, ‘Annette’s dancing in five minutes.’” The scene was filmed in a single take, which made it even more powerful.
Emotional Connection to the Vegas Women
Curtis became deeply moved while discussing the struggles of the women portrayed in the film, reflecting on their difficult lives in Vegas. She mentioned a Nancy Griffith song, "It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go," noting that it encapsulated the hardships faced by these women. "It’s a hard life for these women. This movie really moves me. It’s hard. It’s a hard place — Vegas. It’s all about reinvention. That’s really the nugget of it," Curtis said. "Annette is just the cautionary tale of what happens to women."
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Pamela Anderson’s Reflection on Shelly
Pamela Anderson, who played Shelly, shared her own emotional connection to the character. "I resonated with her passion for nostalgia, as well as the significance of glamour, performance, and fantasy — bringing joy to others while also finding happiness for herself." Anderson’s portrayal of Shelly earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture-drama.
Golden Globe Recognition
On Monday morning, The Last Showgirl received two Golden Globe nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama for Anderson, and Best Original Song for the film’s "Beautiful That Way," written by Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, and Lykke Zachrisson.
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