See Unsee summary
- Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a Las Vegas Story
- Jamie Lee Curtis, commitment beyond the screen
- A heist sequel in the making?
- Growing up Coppola: film sets and quiet lessons
- A family full of stories… and one very busy cousin
- What inspires her, and how motherhood changed her lens
- Advice for the next wave of directors
At the 2025 San Sebastian Film Festival, filmmaker Gia Coppola opened up about The Last Showgirl, her most recent film featuring Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis. Serving on the festival’s jury, she also shared insights on her journey in cinema, touches of family legacy, and why she still dreams of working with Nicolas Cage.
Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a Las Vegas Story
The Last Showgirl tells the story of aging showgirls in Las Vegas, with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis taking center stage. The film has already started to make waves: critics are praising Anderson for her dramatic performance, while Curtis brings her experience as a recent Oscar winner (Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022) to the screen.
What’s surprising is how Anderson came on board. Gia Coppola first tried traditional casting channels, but Anderson wasn’t responsive. It’s only through Anderson’s son that the magic happened—he passed along the script, and Anderson instantly connected with it. “I need this part,” she said. Coppola was amused: “But you have the part. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you!”
Moments like this say a lot about how films sometimes come together in unexpected, human ways. You can write the perfect part for someone, and still, it takes a personal leap to make it real. To read Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton face off in 2026’s Apex trailer
Jamie Lee Curtis, commitment beyond the screen
Curtis is known for her larger-than-life roles and her recent leap into multiverse madness. But on Coppola’s set, what stood out was her presence beyond acting. She helped with gear, supported fellow actors, and set a tone of generosity on set. “I learned so much just being in her presence,” Coppola said.
It’s rare to hear a director speak of their actors with such admiration, not just professionally, but personally. You can feel the respect when Coppola talks about her cast—not as cogs in a movie machine, but as collaborators who shape the soul of the film.
A heist sequel in the making?
Coppola didn’t shy away from teasing what might come next. Inspired by her dynamic leads, she’s toying with the idea of a sequel: a heist movie where Shelly and Annette, the characters played by Curtis and Anderson, rob a Las Vegas casino.
That’s the kind of pitch you can’t help but smile at. After seeing how their chemistry lights up a drama rooted in memory and transformation, imagining them in a high-stakes caper feels both thrilling and natural. And you sense that Coppola is having fun—there’s joy in her voice when she talks about it.
Growing up Coppola: film sets and quiet lessons
Gia Coppola’s connection to cinema runs deep. She’s the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, niece of Sofia and Roman Coppola. She grew up around movies, but backstage, behind monitors, absorbing what makes a scene work. She even assisted her grandfather on his 2011 horror film Twixt. To read Ranking Shyamalan’s Hits: Which Film Defines His Legacy?
What she remembers most from that time isn’t technical advice—it’s a mindset: “Don’t worry until it’s actually really time for worrying.” That calm, almost poetic approach says a lot about her personality as a director. There’s space for experimentation, for not having all the answers right away.
A family full of stories… and one very busy cousin
Nicolas Cage rarely appears in Coppola-family projects, despite being part of the same clan. When asked about it, Gia laughed: “He’s just so busy! But he’s one of my favorite actors.” She reminded audiences that Cage did once work with Francis Ford Coppola on Rumble Fish and Peggy Sue Got Married in the 1980s.
She didn’t hide her hope to collaborate with him one day. And honestly, I’d love to see that too. There’s something exciting about the idea of Coppola’s introspective style meeting Cage’s chaotic energy.
What inspires her, and how motherhood changed her lens
Gia Coppola cited contemporary films like Zodiac (2007) as turning points in her love for cinema. Directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson and David Fincher stand out in her pantheon of influences. You feel in her storytelling a deep respect for mood, detail, and characters who sit quietly with imperfections.
She also spoke thoughtfully about motherhood, and how it’s shifted her inner voice. “I’ve learned so much,” she said. Becoming a parent made her less self-critical and more intuitive—something that, I believe, shows in her recent work.
Advice for the next wave of directors
To those starting out, she shared a few clear takeaways:
- Don’t wait for someone to “give” you a chance. Start creating.
- Don’t be afraid to reach actors in personal ways—sometimes the system gets in the way.
- Accept the unknown parts of filmmaking. Not knowing everything is part of the process.
When Gia Coppola speaks, you don’t feel like you’re listening to a figurehead of Hollywood royalty. You feel like you’re hearing from someone who had to find her own rhythm, step by step, film by film. And now, with The Last Showgirl in the spotlight, it’s clear she’s finding her voice louder than ever.
