I don't like being a sex symbol, says Pamela Anderson

Bang Showbiz on Jul 7, 2025

Published in Women

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Pamela Anderson doesn't enjoy her "sex symbol" status.

The 58-year-old actress cemented her status as a sex symbol by playing 'C.J.' Parker in Baywatch in the 90s, but Pamela didn't actually enjoy the attention that came her way at the time.

During an appearance on the How To Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast, Pamela explained: "I don't like being a sex symbol.

"I mean, I think it's not very sexy. I think we all aspire to be sexy in our relationships, but sexy for the world is, I don't know.

"It brought a lot of attention I didn't like, but I hate to say that because I'm not complaining, but I do feel that is a slippery slope where you are presenting yourself to the world like this and you get this attention back that."

Pamela has adopted a makeup-free look on red carpets in recent years, and the actress is now embracing being "more natural".

She said: "It can be even scary at times, me not wearing makeup and me being at this age, coming into this part of my career, I felt it was important for me in my personal life, to be more natural.

"I want to challenge myself and become and to be present myself in different ways because women are many things. We're not just the wild animal between the sheets."

Pamela previously admitted to being shocked by the public's reaction to her makeup-free appearance.

The Hollywood star actually assumed that no-one would even notice if she decided to stop wearing makeup.

She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "There's these beautiful clothes. I'm wearing Vivienne Westwood. I have this great hat and beautiful coat. Nobody's going to notice if I don't wear any make-up.

"I didn't realize it was going to start all of this, all these people really relating to me."

Pamela feels the public's perception of her has changed over recent times.

The actress believes the shift is also beneficial for her two sons.

Pamela - who has Brandon, 29, and Dylan, 27, with her ex-husband Tommy Lee - shared: "[My sons] probably don't feel they have to defend their mom any more."