Why did Lily James ' hate' returning back to herself after the post 'Pam & Tommy' shoot?
by Ana Walia | Wed, 12 Jan 2022 21:06:53 GMT
Image Source: TVLine, Twitter, Decider

Actress Lily James who will be seen portraying Pamela Anderson in Hulu’s original upcoming series, ‘Pam and Tommy’ opposite Sebastian Stan who is going to play Motley Crue's drummer, Tommy Lee, has shared her experience of portraying Pamela Anderson on-screen along with how she reached out to her.

During a recent interview with 'Net-a-Porter', Lily James shared that she had no idea if she could pull the Baywatch actress off on-screen but she did. She further explained, “I’ve never worked so hard. I read the books [Anderson] has written, I read her poetry, I can parrot along to all her interviews. And then, of course, there was the physical transformation. Slowly, our incredible team found a balance where I resembled Pamela but also felt like I could act through it.”

Lily shared that she would be in makeup from 3:30 AM which started with her putting on a wig, the chest plate, tan, and after four hours of hard work, Lily turned into Pamela Anderson. Explaining the process, Lily said, “I’ve never done anything where I look very different from myself before. And I’d really like to continue in this vein, because I felt there was something very freeing and liberating in it. There was a bravery that came from that. A courage that came from… disappearing.” Talking further about returning to her original self (Lily James), the Downtown Abbey actress shared that she ‘hated it, “It was like being stripped of all these superpowers! I’d really enjoyed the physicality and the sensuality, even down to the long fingernails. There was just so much character to hold on to – it was really thrilling.”

Talking about the similarities an actor can have with the character they are playing on-screen, Lily James shared her experience and said, “I love that about acting; you fit into a character, and you realize you’re not as different as you might have thought. You lean into things in yourself, and discard parts of you that aren’t useful. We were exploring a particular moment in Pamela and Tommy’s life in the ’90s, this absolute lust for love. This openhearted, falling into something. “ Lily James feel grateful that she was selected to play Pamela Anderson on-screen and shared that it was exciting for her as an actress to think about what it might have meant to be young at her age and the top of her fame. She said, “When you look back at some of her interviews from the 1990s, the misogyny is so striking. I mean, it’s changed so much, but… I think it’s more hidden now, perhaps? Anyway, there was a lot in it that I found I could relate to.”

Lily James 'hated' returning back to herself. Image Source: Giant Freakin Robot 

‘Pam and Tommy’ joins the list of critical documentaries and about that Lily said, “It felt like a challenge. And kind of essential. The shaming was so extreme. Unfortunately, that’s still the case, don’t you think? Women are held to much higher standards and attacked in ways that feel so vicious. Pamela had such wit and grace in the way that she held herself. I admire that strength. I suppose that there’s a way of deflecting attention for more worthy purposes?” During the interview, she said that this is the first interview she has done about the series and she cares about it a lot because she has given her best to it.

Lily on asking if Pamela Anderson was involved in the project or not shared, “I was really hopeful that she would be involved. I wish it had been different. My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.” Lily also mentioned that she reached out to the Baywatch actress to talk to her and was hopeful that they will get in touch before the cast started to film. The Cinderella actress shared, “When you recreate any character, you’re taking on another person’s life without necessarily having all the information, so I really have to put huge trust in the director. But I want to provoke a conversation, and I want to be part of these attempts at change. I realize a lot of it’s incredibly sensitive and difficult. And so, as an actor, to a certain extent, what you do is make yourself very open to talk to all of that.”

The series revolves around the infamous sex tape of Pamela and Tommy Lee, which was leaked online and compared to nowadays where the internet tends to leave people vulnerable to a sort of similar exposure. Lily talks about how the internet has practically taken over everybody’s life, “It provoked an internet and celebrity culture that, now, I believe is just way out of hand. There is no such thing as privacy now. Instead of our videos being stolen from safes, “we’re handing them out, constantly sharing our lives – with an audience that doesn’t really care about you. And giving away information to corporations using it for profit. I know a time before that happened, but there are young girls who have no idea. This was a trigger moment that unintentionally sparked a new time… I hope a lot has changed. But sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s changed quite enough.”

During the interview, Lily shared that she has recently found out that ‘spirituality’ is a great way for individuals to come back to their selves. Lastly, she shared that she has been thinking about what advice she would like to give herself and only one comes to her mind which is to not take herself seriously and not care much about what people might think of her. “Well, sometimes I feel really feisty like I can take on anything, and other days I feel very fragile. Because it helps me choose work like this.”

'Pam and Tommy', starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan is going to be available on Hulu from February 2nd.

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