Jamie Lee Curtis recently shared her admiration for Pamela Anderson, drawing parallels between the legendary Baywatch star and her own mother, Janet Leigh. The two actresses co-star in the Sofia Coppola-directed drama The Last Showgirl and opened up about their experiences and bond in an interview with People magazine.
Though Curtis and Anderson had never crossed paths before collaborating on this film, Curtis admitted she was already familiar with Anderson’s iconic image. “There was a picture of her in a bathing suit that I remember very clearly. How could you not?” Curtis recalled. She described Anderson as “classically beautiful,” likening her to her late mother, Janet Leigh. Reflecting on her own looks, Curtis added, “I’ve always thought of myself as cute rather than beautiful. But in a way, Pamela reminds me of my mother.”
Curtis elaborated on the connection, noting how her mother’s “innocence” and “incredible beauty” left a lasting impression on her. She even shared a deeply personal anecdote about writing a note titled Bye Bye, Beauty, in which she described her mother as the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Leigh, best known for her role in Psycho, was married to Tony Curtis from 1951 to 1962. Tony Curtis, known for films like Some Like It Hot, passed away in 2010 at the age of 85.
Curtis also spoke about the valuable lessons she learned from Anderson during their time working together. “What struck me most about Pamela was her incredible beauty paired with an openness that was deeply moving,” she said.
Reflecting on her Hollywood lineage, Curtis joked about being the original “Nepo baby,” acknowledging the privilege of being born to two movie stars. Starting her acting career at 19 with a role on Quincy, M.E. (1976-83), Curtis admitted she never fully understood how she landed that first gig. However, she shared, “There’s not a day in my professional life that goes by without my being reminded that I am the daughter of movie stars.”
From her candid reflections on beauty to her gratitude for the lessons learned from Anderson, Curtis continues to demonstrate a unique blend of humility and grace as one of Hollywood’s most enduring talents.