While advocating for Julian Assange's release, Pamela Anderson visited his mother, who told her to 'stop posting sexy photos' to be taken more seriously: book

• In her memoir, Pamela Anderson reportedly detailed her friendship with Julian Assange, the imprisoned WikiLeaks founder.
• Anderson visited Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy and at Belmarsh Prison in London, advocating for his release.

While advocating for the release of her imprisoned friend, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, actress Pamela Anderson reportedly said Assange's mother advised her to downplay her sexy facade to be taken more seriously.

Anderson became a close friend of Assange's while he lived in political asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the actress recalled their visits, which included vegan meals, talks of the world, and some occasional "frisky" fun, according to her memoir "Love, Pamela," an excerpt of which appeared in The Sunday Times Magazine.

Anderson started working on "clever ways" to help Assange and advocate for his release, including visiting Assange's mother, Christine, in Australia. Anderson brought donations to Christine, who she described as "a big-hearted woman" who was "so distraught over her son," per Anderson's memoir.

"Christine is a brilliant woman and straight shooter. She was quick to give me advice about my life and career," Anderson wrote. "She'd spoken to Julian about me, and she knew I deserved a lot more respect than people gave me, especially in the media."

She added: "But it was partly my own fault, she pointed out, because of the way I had utilised my image. She told me to stop posting sexy photos on social media, to post authentic ones, ones with my sons or pets, with less make-up, not retouched. She thought it would help me become a stronger and more serious activist, because my intelligence was being overshadowed."

Assange lived in the 330-square-foot residence in the embassy from 2012 to 2019, until he was imprisoned by London authorities. In her memoir, Anderson wrote that she was the first person to visit Assange at Belmarsh Prison in London.

"By his request, I was the first person to visit Julian at Belmarsh, the supermax prison. It was a shocking experience – the five checkpoints, the shouting and screaming while we crossed through the yard," Anderson wrote. "It was the most frightening place I've ever visited. Julian is a mild-mannered person, not a physical threat to anyone, and he is being broken down, psychologically tortured."

Though she said she was "touched" by his mother's suggestion and gave the idea "serious consideration," Anderson ultimately opted to continue advocating in her own way with her own personality.

"I argued, I am who I am, and I've always believed that striving to be a sensual person, or being sexy, should not conflict with intelligence. Women have fought hard so that we do not need to limit ourselves," Anderson wrote. "And this confirmed for me that I had to use all I had even more to get attention for what was right. And so I continued the work the only way I knew how."