'The Last Showgirl' gives Pamela Anderson her closeup

NPR | By Stephen Thompson,

Aisha Harris, Brittany Luse, Cate Young, Hafsa Fathima, Lennon Sherburne, Mike Katzif, Jessica Reedy

Published January 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM CST

Pamela Anderson in The Last Showgirl. — Pamela Anderson in *The Last Showgirl*.

In the new movie The Last Showgirl, a woman finds herself with few options as she approaches the end of her long career as a dancer in Las Vegas. The film marks a new chapter in the star-crossed acting career of Pamela Anderson. Directed by Gia Coppola, it tells a story about aging, parenthood, the underbelly of show business, and what happens when the world no longer buys what you're selling.

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Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.

See stories by Stephen Thompson

Aisha Harris

Aisha Harris is a critic and host of Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe: Reckonings With the Pop Culture That Shapes Me.

Brittany Luse

Brittany Luse is an award-winning journalist, on-air host, and cultural critic.

Cate Young

Hafsa Fathima

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Lennon Sherburne

Mike Katzif

Jessica Reedy

See stories by Jessica Reedy