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Lily James reached out to Pamela Anderson ahead of 'Pam & Tommy': 'I was very hopeful'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 1/11/22

Pamela Anderson has not yet publicly commented on Hulu's forthcoming eight-part limited series Pam & Tommy, but she apparently had the opportunity to be involved.

In the new cover story for Net-a-Porter's Porter, Lily James revealed that she reached out independently to Anderson ahead of her portrayal of famous actress for Pam & Tommy.

"I was really hopeful that she would be involved," the 32-year-old actress shared. "I wish it had been different. My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically."

"I was very hopeful that we would be in touch right up until we started filming," James added.

Instead, Anderson never responded to her.

In #LilyJames' PORTER cover story, the actor talks to Eva Wiseman about misogyny in the media, loss of privacy, and why embodying the ‘90s star has been her most challenging role to date. Read the full interview here...https://t.co/v5GDNd4UlI pic.twitter.com/qZeMlfIPnd
— NET-A-PORTER (@NETAPORTER) January 10, 2022

"Set in the Wild West early days of the Internet, Pam & Tommy is based on the incredible true story of the Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) sex tape," Hulu's official synopsis reads. "Stolen from the couple’s home by a disgruntled contractor (Seth Rogen), the video went from underground bootleg-VHS curiosity to full-blown global sensation when it hit the Web in 1997. A love story, crime caper and cautionary tale rolled into one, the eight-part original limited series explores the intersection of privacy, technology and celebrity, tracing the origins of our current Reality TV Era to a stolen tape seen by millions but meant to have an audience of just two."

Anderson and Lee were married in true whirlwind fashion in 1995, and they made a private sex tape during their honeymoon. Following the release of the tape in '97, their relationship grew increasingly tumultuous. They divorced in 1998. The exes share sons Brandon, 25, and Dylan, 24.

James took it all in as she transformed into the iconic actress and model, as told to Porter:

"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
[...]
"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."

Lee, meanwhile, voiced his support of Pam & Tommy to Entertainment Tonight in September: "I know Sebastian [Stan], he's playing me. From what he's told me, really beautiful story. I think a lot of people would think it's one thing, but it's really about privacy and how things got crazy then. There's different laws now."

Watch the Pam & Tommy trailer below.