Heartbreaking reason behind Pamela Anderson's decision to go makeup-free as she shows off her natural complexion at the Gotham Film Awards
- Pamela Anderson, 57, pledged to stop wearing makeup back in 2019
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Baywatch's Casey Jean Parker may have spent her days saving lives on a beach in California - but that didn't stop Pamela Anderson from wearing a full face of make-up both on and off screen.
In the 1990s, the actress, 57, was instantly recognisable for her dark smokey eye looks and heavily lined lips.
But since 2019, the mother-of-two has drastically moved away from her signature make-up and pledged to stop wearing it altogether following the devastating loss of a close friend.
At last night's Gotham Film Awards in New York, Pamela stayed true to her word when she appeared bare-faced on the red carpet in an elegant, yellow strapless dress.
Although the actress had to wear heavy make-up for her role in The Last Showgirl, Pamela told reporters on the red carpet that it no longer has a place in her personal life.
Speaking to People magazine, she explained: 'Make-up has a time and a place. I just feel in my personal life, it just didn't really make sense.'
Last year, Pamela revealed the loss of her close friend Alexis Vogel, who was also her long-time make-up artist, is what sparked her to stop wearing make-up entirely.
Speaking fondly of her late friend, the actress told Elle: 'She was the best.
Pictured: Pamela Anderson opted to go bare-faced at last night's Gotham Film Awards in New York
Pictured: Pamela Anderson at the Elton John AIDS foundation party in Hollywood in 2006 - where she opted for her signature make-up look
'And since then, I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear make-up.'
The two women became friends after meeting on the set of one of Pamela's first Playboy magazine cover shoots in the 1990s.
Pamela and Alexis were friends for 26 years before the make-up artist died of breast cancer in 2019.
In an interview with MailOnline in 2014, Alexis explained how she helped Pamela find her distinctive image in Hollywood.
She explained: 'I'd heard about her, she'd been on Home Improvement and she'd just started on Baywatch, but she didn't really have her image - she was a baby.
'She was pretty fresh-faced, but I wanted to give her more of an image. I really, really loved Bridget Bardot, that sex kitten with perfect features, but of course, this was of course a retro version, making it my own - and her own look.'
Stunned by her reflection, Pamela told Alexis, then working on Playboy cover shoots and editorial: 'I have to have you do my make-up every day for the rest of my life!'
By November 1994 - Pamela's next Playboy cover - she was a bleach-blonde vamp.
Pictured: Pamela Anderson with her close friend and make-up artist Alexis Vogel, who died of breast cancer in 2019
In the 1990s, the actress, 57, was instantly recognisable for her dark smokey eye looks and heavily lined lips
Alexis says: 'I still have her saying that on tape, I saved it. The rest is history, she's been very loyal, we've been loyal to each other.
'We have a very, very close friendship, we're like best friends. After all these years of working together and in all kinds of conditions, it's been a non-stop wonderful ride.'
What's more, Alexis said she felt like she was an aunt to Pamela's two sons, Brandon and Dylan, whom she shares with ex-husband Tommy Lee.
Gushing about her friend's parenting, Alexis added: 'She's a really good mom, a little bit strict, but she's had to be.
The Canadian actress wowed in a sleeveless form-fitting gold gown with a train at The Gotham Film Awards in New York last night
The former Baywatch actress went make-up free for the event - having previously spoken about how she was inspired by the loss of a dear friend to stop wearing make-up
'They turned out wonderful, independent and little businessmen. There are no drugs. They are very, very polite and I don't know which one is more beautiful and they're very smart, they got the best of both parents.'
Elsewhere in her 2023 Elle interview, Pamela said going without make-up has been 'freeing, and fun, and a little rebellious too.'
She added: 'I did notice that there were all these people doing big make-up looks, and it's just like me to go against the grain and do the opposite what everyone's doing.'
Pamela also remarked on ageing and how it's been a 'journey' for her.
She continued: 'I think we all start looking a little funny when we get older. And I'm kind of laughing at myself when I look at the mirror. I go, "Wow, this is really...what's happening to me?" It's a journey. I feel rooted for. I feel good. I'm in a good place.'
