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Pamela Anderson: From 'Death Sentence' to Victor
7 Sep
Summary
- Pamela Anderson received a dire hepatitis C diagnosis in 2002.
- She contracted the virus by sharing tattoo needles with an ex-husband.
- Anderson declared herself free of hepatitis C in 2015.
Actress Pamela Anderson, at 59, delivered a poignant speech at the amfAR Gala Venezia 2026, reflecting on her 2002 hepatitis C diagnosis. Doctors had given her approximately ten years to live, describing it as a 'death sentence.'
Anderson revealed that she contracted the hepatitis C virus by sharing tattoo needles with her ex-husband, Tommy Lee. The diagnosis profoundly impacted her life, causing fear for her two young sons, Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger.
The cost of treatment significantly depleted her finances, but Anderson announced in 2015 that she had been cured of the viral infection. A cure for hepatitis C became available in 2011.
Concluding her address, Anderson declared herself a 'victor,' emphasizing her strength and capability, and stating she is not a 'damsel in distress.' The event, held in Venice, Italy, during the Venice Film Festival, also honored performance artist Marina Abramović.
