Interview: ‘The Last Showgirl’ Screenwriter Kate Gersten Talks Penning the Pamela Anderson Showcase

Sticking with a project over the years, especially as it changes forms, is a testament to knowing you have a story on your hands worth telling. For Kate Gersten, spending over a decade with The Last Showgirl, as it morphed from a play into a film, shows that she had confidence in the final product, especially when Pamela Anderson eventually came aboard. Now, with the movie in theaters and the Golden Globes having nominated the flick for two awards, I’m thrilled to present my chat with Gersten.

In my review of the film (here), I had the following to say about Gersten’s script:

Director Gia Coppola and writer Kate Gersten tell a familiar story, but at the same time, they seem to get the details right. These are blue collar men and women, just trying to make it work, which Coppola and Gersten recognize. There are never overly manufactured moments, either, giving you a sense that this all could be happening. Now, we’ve seen almost all of the plot elements before, but they’re done in a way that never comes off as imitation.

Below, you can hear my conversation with Gersten. It was great to hear about how this project began as something she first conceived in graduate school, as a stage production, no less. She’s charming and frank about the work, as well as the experience of having Anderson end up taking the role across the finish line, cinematically. Plus, we get to find out a bit about being at the Golden Globes, which is fun. The Last Showgirl is out now, so check it out and see what Gersten stuck with all these years.

Here now is my interview with The Last Showgirl screenwriter Kate Gersten. Enjoy:

The Last Showgirl is in theaters now!