Why Pamela Anderson Never Read Lily James’ ‘Pam & Tommy’ Letter: ‘Hurtful Enough the 1st Time’

14.01.2023 - 21:53 / usmagazine.com

Before Lily James filmed Hulu’s Pam & Tommy limited series, she was keen to send Pamela Anderson a “handwritten” letter for advice — which still remains unopened.

“It was already hurtful enough the first time,” the Baywatch alum, 55, told The New York Times in a profile published on Friday, January 13, noting that she was not interested in watching the Emmy-nominated program or speaking with the England native, 33, about her portrayal. “It’s like one of those things where you’re going, ‘Really?’ People are still capitalizing off that thing?”

The Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again actress starred opposite Sebastian Stan in Pam & Tommy, which premiered in February 2022, about Anderson’s whirlwind marriage to rocker Tommy Lee and their leaked sex tape. A home video of the pair’s intimate moments had been stolen from their Malibu, California, residence in 1995, which quickly went viral on the newly-launched Internet. The series — also starring Seth Rogan — chronicled Anderson and Lee’s attempts to stop the release of the video.

James — who earned a 2023 Golden Globe nomination for her role — underwent a physical transformation to match Anderson’s appearance by dying her hair blonde and wearing prosthetic breasts. She also was eager to receive the former Playboy model’s stamp of approval before filming.

“I was really hopeful that she would be involved. I wish it had been different,” the Cinderella star told Net-a-Porter’s Porter in January 2022. “My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.”

James continued at the time: “I’ve never worked so hard. I read the books [that Pamela] has written, I read her poetry, I can parrot along to all her interviews. … Slowly, our incredible team found a balance where