Image: screengrab from “Pam & Tommy” official trailer via YouTube
A new show takes a look at one of Hollywood’s earliest sex tape scandals. Hulu’s eight-part series “Pam & Tommy” explores the notorious scandal that swept up TV star Pamela Anderson of “Baywatch” fame and heavy metal rocker Tommy Lee, a newly married couple at the time.
But the cast says the show is more than just a romp through 1990s nostalgia, and critics say the story transcends its trashy beginnings.
Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrays Lee.
“It’s a unique connection that happened and transpired between super famous ‘Baywatch’ star, Pamela Anderson and ‘Motley Crue’ drummer, Tommy Lee at arguably maybe two of the, you know, at a time in their life where it was, they were both at their very peak.”
Taylor Schilling plays the estranged wife of the man who stole the sex tape. Schilling says the story is an indictment of the audience that lapped up the scandal.
“It’s really like an ode to her bravery and her courage in the face of so much misogyny. We collectively weaponized our judgment against her. We collectively, continued to contribute to this crime. I mean, she was a victim of a serious crime.”
Anderson and Lee, who were married from 1995 to 1998, had no involvement in the series.
Lily James, known for her role in “Downton Abbey” and the film “Cinderella,” is cast as Pamela Anderson.
“I would love to have worked with (Anderson) on this, but in the end, I just had to entirely work my hardest to lean into all the research and to explore as much as I could to try and play her as authentically as possible, that was my job.” JB
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