Diva trailblazers

On and off screen, two stories of triumph against adversity resonate loudly in Hollywood: the underdog valiantly clawing their way to the top and the long-forgotten veteran staging an improbable comeback against success-hungry starlets.

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The Last Showgirl warmly embraces both narratives in an unabashed love letter to these trailblazers, whose artful on-stage nudity was often dismissed as mere titillation. But they paved the way for convention-challenging divas, including burlesque performer Dita Von Teese.

Director Gia Coppola shoots handheld on grainy 16mm film to reflect the nearly faded glitz and glamour of the embattled lead character, played with career-resuscitating gusto by Pamela Anderson.