Pamela Anderson says her ‘loving parents tried their best to keep her safe’ as she recalls traumatic childhood which saw her ‘molested as a child, raped at 12 and gang-raped in her teens’

Pamela Anderson has revealed that her ‘loving’ parents had ‘tried to keep her safe,’ despite enduring horrific hardships, including being raped at the age of 12.

The actress, 57, opened up about her turbulent relationship with her father Barry and mother Carol in an interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine.

Pamela had previously revealed in 2014 that she was molested as a child, raped at the age of 12 and gang-raped just years later, shocking guests with the revelation during a speech at the Cannes Film Festival. 

The Baywatch star told the publication that her ordeal happened ‘despite loving parents, who tried to keep her safe.’

While attending the launch of The Pamela Anderson Foundation a decade ago, Pamela detailed the horrific ordeals she endured during her childhood.

Pamela Anderson has revealed that her ‘loving’ parents had ‘tried to keep her safe,’ despite being raped at the age of 12 (pictured at a BAFTA screening for The Last Showgirl on Monday)

‘I did not have an easy childhood. Despite loving parents, I was molested from age six by a female babysitter,’ she said.

‘I went to a friend’s boyfriend’s house and his older brother decided to teach me backgammon which led into a back massage, which led into rape. My first heterosexual experience.

‘He was 25 years old and I was 12.’

The Playboy cover girl then added that a school boyfriend ‘decided it would be funny to gang-rape me with six friends. I wanted off this earth.’

Last month, Pamela also reflected on her parents’ own tumultuous relationship, admitting to Glamour that there were times when she hoped her mother would leave her father.

‘Well, I know my parents, my dad was a terrible drinker, and my mom kind of figured out a way… And I blamed her, too, because why was she staying in this kind of relationship?’ Anderson recalled. 

‘There were many times where I didn’t want her to stay in it.  But, they worked it out. They’re madly in love.’

‘And I just accepted their relationship is theirs; it’s not my business. And I love my dad. My dad is such an interesting person. He’s in Mensa, the family’s Finnish. He’s very poetic…’

The actress opened up about her turbulent relationship with her father Barry and mother Carol, having previously shared there were times when she wished they’d split 

Pamela had previously revealed in 2014 that she was molested as a child, raped at the age of 12 and gang-raped just years later

In her 2023 Netflix documentary, Pamela opened up about being raped when she was just 12 years old.

She explained that at the time, she went to a condo owned by a guy who her friend had a crush on. 

The friend went upstairs with the owner and she was left downstairs with his friend, who was 25. 

They played Backgammon, and then he told her that she looked as if she needed a massage, and raped her. She told nobody.

She told the documentary: ‘I had so much shame about what happened. I felt like it was my fault. My mom was always crying about my dad, and I couldn’t bear to hurt her more. I didn’t tell her or anyone.’

Just days later, Pamela’s mother Carol told of her devastation over the star’s claims.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Carol said: ‘This whole thing is a complete shock. This is a terrible, dramatic thing to have happened to Pamela and if she went through that all by her self it is horrible.

‘I am kind of numb over it all, I sat there with my mouth open when I found out. My husband Barry and I always felt we were there all the time for the kids so it’s just terrible to hear this now.’

Carol said she knew nothing of the speech in France until she received an email from her afterwards telling her what she’d said. She hasn’t spoken to her on the phone or in person since the explosive claims.

‘It was as much a shock to me as it was to everyone, especially when you think you’re close to the kids,’ said Carol.

‘My son Gerry, God he cried for four hours, I have never seen him cry like that, because it makes you feel you haven’t done your job of protecting Pamela.

‘Pamela wrote in the email, ‘Mom don’t take this personally, I love you so much and we get our strength and our work habits from you,’ she just felt that she wanted to get it off her chest.

‘It must have been a lot to go through especially at the age she was.’

Carol had worked as a waitress at the Hideaway Restaurant in Chemainus, British Columbia when her children were growing up, while dad Barry, 68, worked at Crofton Pulp Mill, a local papermill on Vancouver Island.

Carol said they tried their best to raise their kids in a loving and safe environment.

‘Pam and I were really close back then, I worked days so I was home every night with her and her brother Gerry,’ she said. ‘If she has been sexually abused by a baby-sitter between the ages of six and ten that’s really hard to take.

‘I spoke to my son about it and he said ‘mom everyone had to get sitters, right?’ I can’t remember who the sitter was Pam is talking about because there was so many.

‘My husband used to tease me because I fired them all the time, they weren’t feeding the kids right, weren’t dressing them right, I was always so fussy. You’re leaving them with your prize possessions, but when you are a working family you have to have a sitter.’

She said: ‘I can’t believe she didn’t tell me at the time, she wasn’t a shy child, it’s heartbreaking.

‘We were working all the time and those two (Pam and Gerry) were like ‘Mutt and Jeff’ (the cartoon characters), they looked after each other.

‘Gerry was four years younger than her, but he is just so shocked, he’s trying to remember anything he can about the baby-sitter and the period when Pamela was raped at around 12-years-old.’

Carol said that not only was she busy with work, she was also battling Ovarian cancer when her children were young.

‘It was a tough time, the doctor didn’t think I was going to be long for this world,’ she said.

‘I had that on my mind and me and Barry were working, we were a normal family leading a normal life, you have to do what you can do.’

Pamela, who famously went make-up free at Paris Fashion Week towards the end of last year, has been promoting her role in the drama film The Last Showgirl, where she stars as the titular performner who must make new plans after her show abruptly closes.

Pamela was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause as she took the stage earlier this week. 

‘I’ve been getting ready my whole life for this film,’ she joked, per Variety. 

‘I never felt something so strongly about something [as this film]. It was do it, just be it, and I did it.’

Last month, Pamela reflected on her parents’ tumultuous relationship, admitting that there were times when she hoped her mother would leave her father

According to the film’s synopsis, Pamela’s character struggles with what to do after the closure of her show and tries to repair a strained relationship with her daughter, after years of focusing mostly on her showgirl family.

Meanwhile, Coppola opened up about her new film, telling Deadline, ‘I’ve always wanted to make a movie in Vegas.’

‘I’m so proud of our cast and crew, especially Pamela. I can’t wait to share her daring and heartfelt performance!’

The film was produced by Robert Schwartzman and Natalie Farrey.

‘Dream project, dream cast,’ Schwartzman told the outlet.