Pamela Anderson: The Swinger
Q: I think [producer] Jon Peters [who'd been dating Anderson] was taken aback. After you announced your marriage, he issued a press release that seemed to distance him from you.
A: Fine. He can say whatever he wants. It doesn't matter. I think he is a great person. He's kooky. He's crazier than ...shit. But I don't care. I have my husband. I'm married.
Q: Considering all the Hollywood guys you've gone out with--
A: I have no memory of other men in my life.
Q: Let me help to refresh your memory then. There's Scott Baio, to whom you became engaged; there's your Baywatch co-star, David Charvet, with whom you lived for awhile; TV's Superman, Dean Cain; the surfer, Kelly Slater; and rock n' roller Bret Michaels. I was just wondering what Tommy Lee has that the others don't.
A: I don't want to talk about any of those other guys. People from the past are people I don't care to talk about.
Q: Let's reword the question, then. What is it that initially drew you to Tommy?
A: He is one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. He knows every tree on the planet; he can name every plant. He loves flowers. He's got a great combination of qualities; he's got a wild side and a gentle side as well. We click perfectly. We're always in the same mood at the same time.
Q: But you were not interested in him at first, were you?
A: I avoided him more than I [ever] avoided anybody in my life. Last New Year's Eve, we were both hanging at Sanctuary. He came up, grabbed me, and licked my face. I thought he was a cool, friendly, nice guy, so I gave him my number. But then I thought he was part of a [wild] Hollywood crowd that I try to avoid. I was like, do not come near me!
Q: He pursued you anyway?
A: He called like crazy. He seemed to be going overboard, so I didn't call him [back]. Then, one day. I told him, "You have 24 hours to take me on a date. Then I will never see you again." He said. ''OK," and didn't ask any questions.
Q: So what happened when the big day arrived?
A: He called me 40 times, and then I decided that it would be a bad idea to go out with somebody who's so persistent. So I had my friend call him and say, "Pamela doesn't remember ever speaking to you or saying that she would go out with you." Then, later, just as I was ready to leave for Cancun to do a photo shoot, the phone rang. I picked it up and his voice said, "Hi, this is Tommy Lee." I told him I was going to Cancun. He said. "You're going without me?" I begged him not to come down there. He said, "OK, see you later." I thought it was a weird way for him to end the conversation. But I hung up and left for the airport.
Q: He followed you to Cancun, tracked you down, and soon you two were married. But I understand that you recently had a second wedding. What was that about?
A: It was just for fun. One day Tommy said, "I want to marry you again." I said, "OK. You find the priest. I'll find the clothes." His two best friends call us "The Space Kids"--I don't know why!--and they call our house "Mission Control." I said to them. "You know, one day you're going to come here and see space suits. I'll make you put them on and we will sit around, wearing space suits and drinking cocktails." They thought I was joking, but I went to the costume store and bought everything they had in silver. Tommy's two friends came over and I made them put on the space suits. People were wearing crowns and waving magic wands. Tommy and I had on silver capes, and we got married like that. We're always doing crazy things.
Q: Give me another example of your craziness.
A: Tommy will have his two friends over and I'll get them wearing my rubber dresses. I drink one glass of wine and all of a sudden I come out with my whole wardrobe. These guys have the quality that I most love: open-mindedness. They'll do anything to have fun. They were kickboxing in my bikinis once. When I bring a present home for Tommy, he'll open the box and see that it contains high heels. Size 10-and-a-half. Men's.
Q: And he'll put them on?
A: Of course. Or else, if Tommy is in a bad mood, that's when I go upstairs and come down wearing this three-foot high Mad Hatter hat and high heels. He looks at me and just cracks up--because that's all I've got on.
Q: You certainly sound like you're enjoying married life.
A: It's just fun. You should be able to do what you want in life. I see it all as a great big adventure.
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Michael Kaplan interviewed Henry Rollins for the Jan/Feb '95 Movieline.
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