Pamela Anderson is embracing a new comedic chapter in her acting journey. After earning rave reviews earlier this year for her powerful performance in Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, which even sparked awards buzz, Anderson is pivoting to pure fun in The Naked Gun. She stars alongside Liam Neeson in Akiva Schaffer’s upcoming reboot-quel of the classic spoof franchise.
Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character, while Anderson takes on the role of Beth — a mysterious femme fatale who draws Drebin into a murder investigation involving her brother.
For Anderson, this project is especially meaningful. She almost appeared in the original Naked Gun trilogy back in 1994’s The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. “Anna Nicole Smith played the part I was originally up for,” Anderson revealed to Empire. “I couldn’t take it due to scheduling conflicts. But now, I’m glad because I prefer this new role.”
Despite initial nerves during rehearsals, Anderson and Neeson quickly discovered a natural chemistry. “We had such a blast,” Anderson said. “I was always showering him with bread, cookies, and muffins. He’s a big reader, always with a book in hand — we even bonded over poetry and literature. For his birthday, I gave him a first-edition Hemingway book.”
While their off-screen bond had an intellectual flair, The Naked Gun promises to keep its signature goofy and unpredictable humor. Anderson hints at a surprising musical twist and hilarious one-liners guaranteed to leave audiences in stitches. “Some lines were so outrageous, Akiva would just laugh and say, ‘I can’t believe I get to make you say this!’”
After more than 30 years since the last film, Anderson is finally ready to bring her comedic energy to The Naked Gun.
You can read more in Empire magazine’s full feature on The Naked Gun, which includes interviews with Akiva Schaffer, Liam Neeson, and Pamela Anderson. The Naked Gun hits UK cinemas on 1 August.