During her acceptance of an award at the amfAR Gala in Venice on September 6, Pamela Anderson shared a candid look at her past struggle with hepatitis C. The actress, who currently stars in “The Last Showgirl,” recalled that when she was first diagnosed in the late 1990s, her doctor provided a grim prognosis, suggesting she had only about a decade to live. At the time, no cure existed for the viral infection, which she later disclosed in 2002. Anderson attributed the contraction of the virus to sharing a needle with her ex-husband, drummer Tommy Lee, a claim Lee has denied.
The journey to recovery was both physically and financially taxing. Anderson explained that when a treatment finally became available, it was not yet covered by insurance. She described spending her entire bank balance to access the medication in its early stages, noting that the experience left her with a sense of guilt regarding the lack of equal access for others. The treatment regimen, which she previously compared to chemotherapy, involved a year of interferon injections that caused significant side effects, including hair loss. She officially announced she was hepatitis C-free in 2015.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Anderson admitted that the diagnosis fundamentally altered her perspective and life choices. She described living in a state of fear—not of her own death, but of the potential impact on her young children. Even after achieving a clean bill of health, she noted that the feelings of shame and the internal struggle persisted, describing the experience as a haunting journey that left her feeling like “damaged goods.” She emphasized that her recovery was an ongoing process, complicated by past traumas that she felt were deeply ingrained.
Hepatitis C, a liver-affecting viral infection spread through blood-to-blood contact, often remains asymptomatic for 10 to 20 years before causing severe complications. According to Dr. William Carey, a senior hepatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, sharing needles remains the primary cause of new infections. Globally, the virus impacts approximately 50 million people. In her speech at the amfAR foundation for AIDS research, Anderson highlighted her efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding the disease, encourage testing, and support awareness organizations.
Since overcoming the illness, Anderson has experienced a significant professional resurgence. She has appeared in the 2025 “The Naked Gun” reboot alongside Liam Neeson, as well as “The Last Showgirl,” which earned her nominations for best actress at both the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes. Her most recent project is the satirical dark comedy “Rosebush Pruning,” featuring Callum Turner, Riley Keough, and Elle Fanning. For Anderson, the arts have served as a vital outlet for healing, allowing her to express her truth and find a sense of purpose beyond her past health battles. The report also notes that and compared the treatment to a year of “having the flu,” which she described as injections of the antiviral drug interferon, in an interview with Larry King on CNN, food and Drug Administration. The report also notes that your hair falls out,” she continued. The report also notes that i’m sure that colored and corrupted my decisions. The report also notes that hepatitis C, a viral infection that primarily affects the liver, can exist quietly in the body and is easy to overlook.
