Pamela Anderson’s latest movie, The Last Showgirl director Gia Coppola gushed about the actress’ commitment to the project.

The Hollywood star and director were jointly honored with the Pioneer Award at the Sun Valley Film Festival on December 6, as part of the festival’s 2024 Winter Screening Series.

In a conversation with Variety, Coppola praised Anderson’s dedication to their project, highlighting her as a guiding force throughout the production.

“[Pamela] was really setting the bar for all of us to just be honest and real and raw and vulnerable, and coming together and really creating a family bond, which was so much of what needed to transcend in the movie,” Coppola shared.

Anderson, for her part, described her motivation with humility.

“I would tell the girls, ‘Look, you’re going to go on to do another hundred movies. You’ve been in the film industry a long time. This might be my only chance,’” she said.

The film tells the story of Shelly, a seasoned showgirl played by Anderson, who grapples with her future when the revue she performs in announces its closure.

The production, which featured a tight 18-day shooting schedule, required Anderson to bring her A-game from day one.

“I knew that I had to prepare for this film like I would a play,” Anderson explained.

The Pioneer Award celebrates innovators who have made significant contributions to the art of filmmaking, and Anderson and Coppola’s collaboration on the heartfelt project earned them this well-deserved recognition.