Pamela Anderson has been outspoken about not being pleased about the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy. The Canadian actress has recently shared that her own documentary is coming out, this time from Netflix, and it’s called the “definitive documentary about the pop culture icon” in the press release.
Variety reports that the press release is calling it “an intimate portrait embedded in the life of Pamela Anderson as she looks back at her professional and personal path and prepares for the next steps on her journey.” One of the producers is Anderson’s own son, Brandon Thomas Lee, and will be directed by Ryan White with exclusive access to Anderson, as well as archival footage and her personal journals.
The actress shared a picture on Instagram with the caption: “My life. A thousand imperfections. A million misperceptions. Wicked, wild & lost. Nothing to live up to. I can only surprise you. Not a victim, but a survivor. Alive to tell the real story.”
While reviews for Pam & Tommy have stated that it has treated Anderson with care and respect, I do feel a little uneasy giving it a watch considering her own, well-documented unhappiness with it. I don’t judge anyone watching, but I do think it is possible for something to be exploitative even without meaning to be. The best intentions don’t stop a public figure from being uncomfortable with a project that centers their story without their blessing.
Anderson is a controversial figure for a lot of reasons, but I am glad she is getting the opportunity to tell her story in a way that makes her comfortable. And gets paid for.
As the sex symbol of the ’90s, Anderson has not always been able to have full control over her public image, and I think any attempt to reclaim, or right the social wrongs done to her, needs to make sure the figure they’re focused on is being included.
(via Collider, image: Grammarcy Theaters)
