Pamela Anderson is widely known, but she has expressed a desire to change her name.
The 58-year-old actress gained fame in the 1990s with her role in Baywatch and has maintained her celebrity status in Hollywood since then.
Most recently seen in The Naked Gun with Liam Neeson, Anderson has spoken about her connection to her heritage, even as she enjoys global success.
Her grandfather, Herman Hyytiäinen, was from Finland, and they shared a special bond.
According to Vogue Scandinavia, Anderson’s family originally used the Finnish surname before relocating to Canada, where they adopted the more Americanized Anderson.
In an interview with the outlet, Anderson reminisced about her relationship with her grandfather and contemplated adopting the Hyytiäinen name.
“Sometimes I don’t want to be Pamela Anderson. I want to be Pamela Hyytiäinen,” she expressed. “I would like to change my name, but they won’t let me.”
Her appreciation for Finland was nurtured by her grandfather, who taught her Finnish, which she found enchanting.
Unfortunately, Herman passed away when Anderson was 11, limiting her time to learn the unique language.
She said, “I’d love to go back to Finland, maybe with my sons. To find out more about myself, to explore that side of me. Maybe we will change my name and go back, to answer to my roots. It feels distant, but it’s a part of me.”
Anderson, known for her role in Barb Wire, has always been proud of her Finnish heritage.
She has previously mentioned her background, discussing her grandfather in a 2015 interview with Esquire.
Describing him as ‘a healer from Finland,’ she noted, “All of his brothers changed their names, too, so I have a feeling that maybe something bad happened in Finland.”
While embracing her roots, Anderson has also established her own identity in the US. Yet, she acknowledged last year the need to move beyond the sex symbol image that many associated her with during the 90s.
In a 2024 conversation with Hello!, she stated: “You know, I’m 57 years old. A lot of my career was about physicality, and it’s been a journey, but it’s also been part of the reason I’ve done this experiment with myself; to peel it all back, remember who I am and not be defined by what people do to me, but defined by what I do, and to have passion for the work and not become bitter or jaded — still finding joy in the process, in life and in this business.”