Pamela Anderson, the iconic Baywatch star, is experiencing a career renaissance at the age of 57: on the heels of her 2022 Broadway debut and the 2023 publication of her memoir, she is now generating best actress Oscar buzz for her performance in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl.
In recognition of Anderson’s acclaimed portrayal of a veteran Vegas showgirl confronting an uncertain future after the show in which she appeared for 30 years suddenly closes, she received a best lead performance Gotham Award nomination on Tuesday. And on Thursday, the Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival GEMS event announced that she will be this year’s recipient of its Art of Light Acting Award.
The honor will be presented on Sunday, Nov. 3, following a 12 p.m. ET screening of The Last Showgirl and a Q&A with Anderson and Coppola, to be moderated by yours truly.
The Art of Light Award is presented to cinematic artists “whose exemplary work shines new wonders on the continuing evolution of motion pictures.” Past recipients of the honor include Alison Brie, Raúl Castillo, Andra Day and Michael Showalter.
“Pamela Anderson is the very essence of an icon,” Lauren Cohen, MFF’s director of programming, said in a statement. “Not only does she give a profoundly delicate and vulnerable performance in The Last Showgirl, but her work on display here is the absolute best of her career. She is nothing short of dazzling, and she deserves all the awards buzz she’s been garnering, and then some!”
The Last Showgirl, which also features Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song and Billie Lourd, premiered to rave reviews at September’s Toronto International Film Festival. It then screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where its ensemble was awarded a Special Jury Award, and the Zurich Film Festival, where Anderson received the Golden Eye Award. Roadside Attractions will release it in the U.S. on Jan. 10, 2025.
This year’s Miami Film Festival GEMS event began on Oct. 30 and will wrap up on Nov. 3.
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