A body language expert has given their verdict on whether Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson’s romance is genuine or a showmance.
The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other during the red carpet premiere of their new film, The Naked Gun, in London on Tuesday.
Fans have been unsure about the status of the co-stars’ relationship after Liam, 73, admitted he ‘loved’ Pamela, 58, earlier this year – ahead of the film’s release on 1 August.
Now, Judi James has shed light on the situation, revealing there are, ‘no signals here of anything other than a warm friendship.’
She explained: ‘These red carpet poses are undeniably romantic, flirty, sensual and playful… but I’d also have to add, in my opinion, “performed” to the end of this list but with no detriment to either of these two popular and talented actors.
‘In the photos, we see Pamela with the classic celebrity hand on Liam’s chest in a gesture of ownership and their moments of mutual eye contact plus her pucker as she leans up to plant a very tended kiss on her co-star’s lips.’
She continued: ‘The entire video footage shows how this occurred though. Both tend to be rather private people and as they pose side-by-side Liam is keeping up some sort of commentary to Pamela via the side of his mouth, possibly to keep both their spirits and red carpet smiles up as they pose for a huge bank of cameras.
‘There are the usual yelled requests from the photographers (always to get the actors to get into character and reflect some of the passion they create on screen) and Pamela looks in their direction with a grin and a nod of agreement.’
Pamela appeared in good spirits as the actress planted a sweet kiss on Liam’s cheek while they posed for the cameras.
On the sweet moment, Judi added: ‘Pamela is the one who then choreographs the cheek kiss in a very polite and ladylike way while Liam remains in the pose of the perfect gent.
‘She turns to Liam in a non-verbal ‘request’ and he couple meet eye contact after some subtle tie-signs to agree to their ‘flirty’ moves. Pamela briefly places the hand on Liam’s chest and as he inclines his head she quickly kisses his cheek.
‘Their ‘after behavior’ defines a mutual fondness and respect with signs of friendship and a sense of playfulness. Pamela wipes her lipstick off Liam’s cheek, but they couple break quickly to walk off.
‘There are no signals here of anything other than a warm friendship. One huge ‘tell’ is how far apart their pelvises are held. Liam keeps his facing front while Pamela tilts her bum out to avoid the kind of ‘pelvic fusion’ you normally see from a sexual coupling.’
It comes after Liam joked that his favourite part of making the film was filming ‘the sex scenes’ with his co-star Pamela.
He joked about their intimate scenes as The Sun reported the pair were given an intimacy co-ordinator on set.
The star explained: ‘I’d never had one before. But she was in the background. There was no kind of, ‘OK! Excuse me!’.
Pamela portrays a nightclub singer, who comes to Police Squad for help following the murder of her brother, in Akiva Schaffer’s slapstick comedy continuation.
Pamela added that the intimacy co-ordinator knew when to walk away and joked that she stormed off, with Liam claiming she threw her hands up in the air and said, ‘I can’t take this! This is too hot for me. I’m going for coffee’.
However, despite their undeniable chemistry, both on-screen and off, there is no true romance between the co-stars.
An insider told the Daily Mail, ‘Liam has long felt that he isn’t going to date anymore and this connection with Pam is nothing more than an incredible friendship that they will share forever.
‘Liam is in love with Pam, but only as friends. Some might confuse their bond for something more.’
Last week, Pamela also set the record straight on romance rumours between the pair as the Baywatch queen posed for Entertainment Weekly for their digital cover.
And unfortunately there is no romance yet. ‘I think I have a friend forever in Liam,’ she said. ‘And we definitely have a connection that is very sincere, very loving, and he’s a good guy.’
Liam stars in the film as as Los Angeles Police Squad detective Frank Drebin Jr., son of Nielson’s Frank Drebin.
It comes after in October Liam said he was ‘madly in love’ with the Playboy cover girl.
‘She’s just terrific to work with,’ he told People.
‘I can’t compliment her enough, I’ll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She’s funny and so easy to work with. She’s going to be terrific in the film.’
‘Our chemistry was clear from the start. We have the utmost respect for one another,’ Pamela told EW last month.
‘I invited him and his assistant over for romantic dinners with me and my assistant so our relationship stayed “professionally romantic” during filming.’
The Canadian-American beauty and Liam bonded over their shared ‘love of literature and a good laugh’ and she regularly left cookies, muffins, and homebaked sourdough bread in his dressing room.
‘I am in awe of him, his experience, and work ethic. I soaked him in like a sponge,’ Pamela gushed.
‘I’m hoping people love it. We had so much fun making it. I think it’s timely for a beloved comedy like this. I’m a fan of the originals. As Liam says, “We could all use a good giggle.” I pray we do more.’
And the feeling was definitely mutual for Liam who gushed to People last October: ‘I’m madly in love with her. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She’s funny and so easy to work with. She’s going to be terrific in the film.’
Liam is technically five years older than original Naked Gun star Leslie Nielsen was when he shot the third film.
Pamela previously worked with the late funnyman – who died, age 84, in 2010 – in Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Superhero Movie (2008), but they did not share any scenes together.
This September, the Sonsie Skin co-founder will fly to England to shoot a mystery role in Sally Potter’s upcoming funeral drama Alma alongside Dakota Fanning and Lindsay Duncan.
In April, Pamela was in Australia filming her role as two-time divorcée Molly in Kornél Mundruczó’s upcoming drama Place to Be alongside Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi.
Last September, Anderson was hard at work on the Spanish set of Karim Aïnouz’s dark satire Rosebush Pruning for Mubi alongside Elle Fanning, Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, and Lukas Gage.
The 15-time Playboy cover girl experienced a full-blown career resurgence last year after starring in Gia Coppola’s drama The Last Showgirl, which earned her Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations.
