PAMELA ANDERSON has been honoured for her tireless work to end animal cruelty – she’s been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)’s Person of the Year.
The former Baywatch beauty was awarded the title after a year in which she drew attention to animal rights issues by speaking to students at the U.K.’s prestigious Oxford University, posing for pictures with her body painted in butcher markings, and filming a TV commercial in which she strip-searches plane passengers for hidden furs and pelts.
The vegetarian actress/model also adopted stray dogs from an animal shelter and called on leaders in India to ban the country’s “unspeakably cruel” trade in leather.
And her efforts to promote the cause have now been recognised by officials at PETA, who named her their Person of the Year for 2010 on Friday (31Dec10).
A spokeswoman for the campaign group tells WENN, “For years, Anderson has been penning letters and posing in ads for PETA U.K.’s American affiliate in order to raise awareness of cruelty to animals and demonstrate how easy it is to avoid contributing to animal suffering.”
IT is the interview I thought would never happen. When I heard Pamela Anderson was coming to Liverpool to star in panto, I was confused. What a strange piece of casting.
An American sex goddess to millions and the babe in Baywatch here in Liverpool in panto.
I heard Ms Anderson had done fantastic business in Wimbledon last year as the Genie in Aladdin.
But this is Liverpool. How would Scousers take to her?
I’m delighted to say they love her. They have taken her to their hearts.
The story was out that she doesn’t suffer fools. She is guarded by people who love and care for her.You don’t get near her, but why should she drop her guard?
The way she has been treated over the years by the world’s press, the internet and by some people close to her is totally unacceptable.
I didn’t realise how many heterosexual friends I had until she came to Liverpool, I have had them crawling out of the woodwork.
So the big day came when I had to meet her. The first thing that struck me about her was her fashion sense. What a stylish woman. I have never seen her in the same outfit twice.
At rehearsals she was very cautious but when she started to settle into the show her warmth lit up the room. She is a fun lady. In all my years of working with some of the biggest names in the industry I have never seen an artist so pursued by the paparazzi.
Pamela has really fallen for the city, the friendliness of the people, the Tate gallery and Ma Egerton’s at the back of the theatre, where she thinks Ann the singer is brilliant.
The saddest thing for her is she has not had enough time to explore because of the pantomime schedule. In the panto there is a part of the show in which I get to look at her for three minutes twice a day in Vivienne Westwood’s sequined re-imagining of her famous skimpy Baywatch costume. She has legs to die for and I can’t fault her looks.
She sends herself up on stage very cleverly and Liverpool people love her for it.
I wanted to find out who is the woman behind this perfectly formed body? I arranged a night out at Viva Brazil the new meat eating experience to break the ice.
Jaf, one of the bosses, was the perfect host, and, with the Dom Perignon flowing, 15 of the company started to bond properly.
To my horror I found out that Pamela is a vegetarian!
I asked Pamela if she would let me interview her on my show and she said yes. So she graced my studio with her presence and I started to find out who she was.
When her children are asked what their parents do for a living, they say ‘Daddy’s a rockstar, Mummy rescues animals’.
This Christmas her children are surfing with Dad and I was shocked to find out they have never watched Baywatch, which still goes out in 150 countries. One of her children, Dylan, came home from school one day and asked: “Mummy are you Pamela Anderson?”
What came across while I was interviewing her was her passion for helping animals.
She talked about it at length. Nobody knew, but over Christmas she went around animal rescue centres giving doggy bones out. She also went to homeless shelters.
Her thoughts on fur coats sum her love for animals up: “Why would you wear something that has been skinned alive, anally electrocuted, that makes you look fat when you wear it and you smell like a dog on a rainy day?”.
That’s why Paul McCartney, in 1999, awarded Pamela the Linda McCartney Humanitarian Award.
I asked her, as a mother, about her fears for her children with all the temptations of the world.
She said her kids are genetically loaded but extremely streetwise and know right from wrong.
The panto has been a very happy one and our Baywatch babe is no dumb blonde, she is a passionate, gentle, caring mother and a wonderful human being who wants to help others.
I also discreetly visited a home for families that have been victims of domestic abuse…
I brought presents for 11 families… I was only able to meet and have tea with one woman there… She and her daughter are starting a new life..
I admire these strong women…Who have to get on with their lives with a smile and keep their children safe and happy and secure… It’s the hardest job in the world… I commend these families. And abhor men who resort to violence in their homes in front of their children…the lowest form of life. Get serious help if you ever raise your hand to woman or child…
And please get help if you are a victim…Verbal, emotional and physical abuse all leave scars.
BAYWATCH star Pamela Anderson granted Christmas wishes for sick children at Liverpool’s Alder Hey hospital.
The American actress, who plays the Genie of the Lamp in this year’s Empire production Aladdin, brought panto magic to the young patients.
Pamela, 43, said: “It was a wonderful experience to visit Alder Hey, so the cast and I could help lift the spirits of the kids.
“It is sad to see children have to be in hospital over Christmas but the staff are doing their very best to make it as comfortable as possible.”
Pamela, who is spending her second Christmas in the UK, wished patients “a very Merry Christmas”. She added: “I wish the children all the best for the New Year and wish they be well soon.”
Dressed in their glittering costumes, the cast brought smiles and laughter to three wards during their surprise visit. They also delivered Christmas presents before heading back for yesterday’s matinee performance.
