Pamela Anderson, 59, has spoken about the profound impact of her Hepatitis C diagnosis, recalling how doctors gave her an estimated decade to live after contracting the virus around 1999. Anderson contracted the blood-borne illness after sharing a tattoo needle with her then-husband, Tommy Lee.
Speaking at the amfAR Gala in Venice, Anderson described the diagnosis as feeling like "a death sentence." She explained that the prognosis significantly influenced her decisions and her life, particularly her fear for her young children's future. "It turned my life inside out," she told Variety.
The Hepatitis C Journey
Anderson lived with Hepatitis C for 16 years before announcing in 2015 that she was cured. The treatment was financially taxing, consuming all her savings. Despite being medically cleared, Anderson shared that she is "still haunted by shame and guilt." She likened this experience to childhood sexual abuse, feeling "damaged goods" and presenting herself as such.
"My experience of shame and guilt was also an unconscious journey. It stays with me; it haunts me," she stated.
Finding Strength and Expression
Anderson stated that she has "finally come to terms" with the diagnosis, using the experience to fuel her recent career resurgence. She believes her truth has emerged through her work and artistic expression, providing her with "ammunition" and a "fertile life to use and play in."
"I'm not a victim, I'm a victor," Anderson asserted. "I am strong and capable, more now than I could ever dream of … I'm not the damsel in distress, no matter how easy that role is to play."
Anderson was at the Film Festival to promote her new film, Place To Be, and to accept an award at the amfAR Gala. She gained widespread recognition in the 1990s for her role as C.J. Parker in the television series Baywatch, appearing in 77 episodes and reprising the character in the 2003 film Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
Reflecting on her time on Baywatch earlier in the summer, Anderson described it as a "great job" that taught her a lot and provided global exposure. She added that while she has no plans to return to the franchise, she would have been interested if her children had been involved in a potential reboot.