Former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson has completely redone her image, including becoming a Golden Globe nominee thanks to her role in 2024’s “The Last Showgirl.” Most recently, the 59-year-old actress has a new movie arriving in theaters, “Rosebush Pruning.” Now, she’s opening up about why the passion project won’t be for everyone.
In addition to Anderson, the movie stars Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Tracy Letts, and Lukas Gage.
MUBI released the Karim Aïnouz-directed “Rosebush Pruning” to US movie theaters on July 24, following its debut in both Germany and the United Kingdom. In discussing the film with PEOPLE, the actress said it’s “shocking in a good way. But not shock for shock value, to tell a story.”
In the movie, Anderson plays the wealthy head of a family that relocates to Spain several years before the events of the film pick up. She said of the family depicted in “Rosebush Pruning,” “I do believe there’s this kind of emptiness that comes from wealth for no good reason.”
Regarding how she thinks audiences will react, the “Baywatch” alum suspected, “It’s not going to be for everybody. People are going to have feelings about it. It’s not an easy ride. But that’s what the movie’s for.” It’s worth noting that the movie depicts themes such as abuse and sex.
The Former ‘Baywatch’ Star Explained Why She Took On The Role
Following her success with “The Last Showgirl,” many suspected Anderson would continue with a string of mainstream-friendly movies. To a degree, she has done that, including with 2025’s “The Naked Gun.” Regarding why she took on the role in “Rosebush Pruning,” Anderson stated that she wants to take risks in her career.
According to her, “I want to work with risk-takers. I want to challenge myself and even my mindset when it comes to storytelling. I want to play all sorts of different roles.”
She then shared another small detail regarding what she loved about the role. Anderson said, “And it was also fun to have gray hair. Why not?”
Regarding the director, Aïnouz, the beloved actress called him a “visionary artist.”
The Reaction To The Film Has Been Divided
“Rosebush Pruning” was first released in April 2026 in Germany. The movie already has an official Rotten Tomatoes score, currently sitting at a “rotten” 21% on the platform. This is based on 43 reviews for the 95-minute-long movie.
In reviewing the movie, Natalia Winkelman wrote for The New York Times, “A petty provocation that, like a spent blossom in time-lapse, shrivels and disintegrates as soon as it’s over.”
Robert Kojder from Flickering Myth wrote, “Rosebush Pruning is what happens when screenwriter Efthimis Filippou doesn’t have Yorgos Lanthimos adding layers to the deranged and perverted, but it is so knowingly and originally tasteless it’s almost worth recommending.”
In a positive review, Cara O’Doherty said, “Visually striking and driven by strong performances, Rosebush Pruning is peculiar and distinctive, but also deeply distasteful.”
Lastly, Dulcie Pearce from The Sun UK stated, “The talented cast make the film watchable, but sadly the script never keeps up with how kooky and intriguing the film longs to be.”
Pam Anderson’s Son Recently Tied The Knot
Anderson’s 28-year-old son, whom she shares with Tommy Lee, walked down the aisle in June 2026. Previously, the actress shared that he’d asked her to return to her iconic blonde hair color for the wedding, which she obliged.
During her recent PEOPLE interview, she dished on the wedding and became vulnerable, revealing that she realized that her son no longer belonged to her amid the special occasion. She called the wedding “wonderful,” before saying, “I couldn’t have been happier.”
Anderson continued, “It’s so emotional. It kind of catches you off guard even because we’ve all been living such independent lives. My boys are very independent, and they’ve all lived on their own for many years, and [he and Paula have] been together for nine years, but it really did feel like, oh, ‘Dylan is not mine anymore. He and Paula belong together.’”
The Hollywood Icon Has Another Movie Coming Out
Anderson has a number of film projects in various stages of development. This includes her next film, “Place to Be,” which is set to premiere in September 2026 at the Venice Film Festival. The drama film also stars Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi.
Additionally, she is one of the stars of Michael Cera‘s upcoming “Love is Not the Answer.”