From Downton to Baywatch 'I HOPE I DO PAMELA JUSTICE'

The hemlines have certainly gone up for actress Lily James, who takes on a hellraising ’90s icon, whose famous red costume is a big one to fill

- Rebekah Hebenton

She’s played her fair share of alluring vixens, but stepping into the shoes – and red swimsuit – of one of the world’s most famous sex symbols was almost impossible to bear for Lily James.

The British actress – most well known for her award-winning turn as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey – is portraying ’90s Baywatch star Pamela Anderson in the upcoming Disney+ series Pam and Tommy.

And the responsibility of doing right by blonde bombshell Pamela weighed heavily on the actress.

“I really wanted to pull out of this a week before shooting began,” Lily, 32, laughs. “I felt, ‘I can’t do it.’ It just felt too frightening. But I think that’s a good place to work from because it keeps you growing and getting better, I hope.”

The series, which begins streaming on February 2, focuses on a traumatic time in Pamela’s life.

In 1995, the Canadian star was on top of the world – Baywatch had catapulted her to worldwide fame and she was a happy newlywed after a whirlwind four-day romance with Mötley Crüe rocker Tommy Lee. But all that changed in the blink of an eye when a disgruntled former employee released a stolen sex tape of the couple.