A few extra glances are in order when Pamela Lee, wearing perfectly faded jeans and a tight white T-shirt, slips into the room. Just forget for a moment that she's the world's most famous full- blown bombshell, one who makes even comic- book heroines feel woe- fully inadequate. We're serious journalists, dammit, and Pam has made serious news of late-the sort of earth-shaking bulletin that makes stock markets plummet and warring factions in the Balkans pause. Yes, the original Tool Time girl has recently remodeled her national treasure of a torso, reportedly with smaller implants (mov-ing from a D cup down to a still-impressive C). And it's our duty to report that... Lord, she looks better than ever. Really.
An even odder-if that's possible-turn of events is Pam's recent reconciliation with her ex-con of an ex-hubby, Tommy Lee. Then again, they do have a lot in common, including two children and starring roles in the most popular amateur sex video of all time. All these ups and downs seem to be sitting well with Pam. Despite feeling more than a bit of post-op stitch-itch and tender-ness, she's in a buoyant mood as we sit down to shoot the breeze on the set of her new show, V.I.P. And yes, she still has a few things to get off her chest.
Do you feel sexier now that you've been... dehanced?
I've always felt sexy. I don't really feel that much different. I feel great.
I think women's bodies are beautiful, but I don't have a type. Believe it or not, I'm not obsessive about my own body. 1 don't even work out much. I can gain or lose 10 pounds, depending on my stress level, and still feel healthy.
Actually, I get thinner. After having two kids, I have a hard time keeping weight on-it's like everything is working faster.
What about all your clothes that you don't wear any longer-did you donate them to the Salvation Army?
Well, I had way too many dress-up clothes anyway. Everything is pink, short, and silly. I have whole closets stuffed full of fluffy stuff that I don't need.
At least on your new show you don't always appear in a bathing suit.
Yeah, we're poking fun at that image I cre-ated. They took themselves so seriously on Baywatch. I was always like, "Guys, this is not Masterpiece Theater." Actually, right before I left, they started to get campy. I loved it when they sped up the film, or when someone would fall off the back of the truck and slide across the sand on a surfboard into the water to save someone.
You go under cover on V.I.P. a lot. If you could switch lives with some-one, who would it be?
Tommy. It would be nice to know how your partner thinks. That would be fun-for a day.
You could get in touch with your masculine side.
Yeah, strap one on. Bend over, baby.
On another topic, why would you want to get back together with Tommy after all that's happened?
Well, he's definitely grown by leaps and bounds. There were some things we didn't know as young parents-like how to com-municate as a couple, I became a mother and that was my main focus. To keep a rela-tionship healthy, you really have to remem-ber your partner.
Did you date while he was in jail?
I saw one other person. I didn't think I'd be back together with Tommy, or I wouldn't have been with anybody else. I tried to move on with my life. But he's the father of my kids. [The phone rings.] That might be him. He's the only one who has the number here.
You're not going to pick it up?
Nah. I'll call him later.
You must have him wrapped around your little finger now.
No way. Not at all. He's just himself. We both have very strong personalities and strong opinions, but we've learned to accept the other person for who they are.
What was your reaction when you first learned someone had swiped your sex tape?
Devastation. There's nothing you can do about it after it's done-just deal with it. I'm surprised people really find
it that interesting to delve into someone else's personal Iife. l would never watch another celebrity couple Things come out and you're like, "How does anybody know about that?" Then you realize that some of the people closest to you are selling stories. It's kind of freaky.
Yeah, but what are you gonna do?
Well, I've started purposely telling stories on the set that aren't true. Then when it comes out, I'll know who it is.
How V.I.P. of you.
Except that knowing me, I'm going to forget who I told what.
Have you sworn off amateur video cameras now?
[Laughs] I'm not going to say. I don't need any more break-ins at our house.
What's the oddest thing we'd find your bedroom?
I have a couple of swings in there. I love swings. And I just got a trapeze for my birht day. My whole life I wanted to join the circus And my stunt double comes from three generations of circus performers, so she's teaching me how to use it.
What's the best gift you've gotten?
Tommy put an entire Starbucks in my house. We don't drink, so he ripped out the bar and put in this whole Starbucks thing with a neon sign. So I can make my own half-cat grande nonfat mocha. Next to my family, I love Starbucks the most.
What do you take off when you want to feel sexy?
My makeup.
What do you put on?
Nothing. I think nothing is sexy. Go natural.
You'll get no argument from us. What's the most obnoxious pick-up line you've heard?
"My bologna has a first name, it's L-A-R-G-E." Do you have any phobias? I get really shaky and nervous if I see myself on television. If anyone else is in the room, I break out in a sweat.
What does Tommy think of that?
He's like, "That's so weird, Pamela." He's never seen a Baywatch episode. I won't let him. I will literally freak out.
What do you envision doing at 50?
Sitting on a porch with no teeth...and our shotguns. No, that's at 70. By 50 I want to create a whole bunch of movies.
You want to be a female Spielberg?
More like Russ Meyer. You know, keep it fun and campy.
With lots of big-breasted women.
Big-breasted violent women.
How would things be different if women ruled the world?
We do rule the world. Men just haven't figured it out yet.
THAT'S THE END GUYS
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A few extra glances are in order when Pamela Lee, wearing perfectly faded jeans and a tight white T-shirt, slips into the room. Just forget for a moment that she's the world's most famous full- blown bombshell, one who makes even comic- book heroines feel woe- fully inadequate. We're serious journalists, dammit, and Pam has made serious news of late-the sort of earth-shaking bulletin that makes stock markets plummet and warring factions in the Balkans pause. Yes, the original Tool Time girl has recently remodeled her national treasure of a torso, reportedly with smaller implants (mov-ing from a D cup down to a still-impressive C). And it's our duty to report that... Lord, she looks better than ever. Really.)
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