Despite having a multifaceted career full of awards and recognition, the barometer by which Pamela Anderson measures her success is not a shiny trophy, but a well-stocked refrigerator.

The Hollywood icon, 57, has opened up about the inspiration behind her new cookbook, I LOVE YOU: Recipes From the Heart, saying her adoration for plant-based foods started at an early age.

Anderson, who admitted she didn’t grow up with a lot of fresh produce, recalled the first time cooking piqued her interest — and it all started with a salad.

Anderson told the Washington Post that Anderson remembered visiting her neighbor’s house when she was about six or seven years old and finding the refrigerator full of food — a stunning change from her refrigerator at home.

“I always thought this is the symbol of success, when you can open your refrigerator and it’s just full,” the actress and model, who grew up on Vancouver Island, Canada, explained to the Washington Post.

The former Baywatch star reminisced about the salad sighting, which she said was the first time she really thought about where food comes from.

Pamela Anderson talks about the inspiration behind her new cookbook, I LOVE YOU: Recipes From the Heart, and says her love for plant-based foods started at a young age.

“That food doesn’t just come from a supermarket, vegetables don’t just come from a can – I think that was a big realization for me,” she said.

An avid animal activist, Anderson was initially driven to vegetarianism – which later transitioned to veganism – at a young age, admitting it was spurred by her father’s hunting.

She remembered coming across a decapitated deer hanging after one of her father’s hunting trips and realizing with horror what it really was.

“When I realized it was meat, I thought, ‘I can’t do that,’” she said.

She added that although her book is vegan, she sees it more as a “celebration” of her love of cooking, her garden and vegetables.

“I also don’t judge other people for the way they eat, so I didn’t really want this to be a typical vegan cookbook, so it’s being pushed to the vegan section of cookbooks,” Anderson said.

“I just want it to be a celebration of my garden and vegetables. There’s just no one left out.”

The actress, who has been vegan for almost three decades, was convinced to write a book by her two sons, Brandon, 28, and Dylan, 26, to whom she later dedicated the book.

The Hollywood icon, 57, recalls the first time her cooking piqued her interest – and it all started with a salad

An avid animal activist, Anderson was initially driven to vegetarianism – which later transitioned to veganism – at a young age, admitting it was spurred by her father’s hunting.

The actress was convinced to write a book by her two sons, Brandon, 28, (left) and Dylan, 26, (right), to whom she later dedicated the book (pictured in 2023).

“I gave them a box of recipe cards for their housewarming gift with a bunch of recipes,” she explained on Good Morning America.

“And of course Brandon, being the entrepreneur that he is, said, ‘Mom, this is a cookbook.’ And I said, ‘Okay, come on, let’s do this,'” she said.

Last week, Anderson attended the Zurich Film Festival to present her new film The Last Showgirl, and she also accepted the Golden Eye Award at the Swiss Film Festival.

While there, she revealed to the starling that she had suffered from early bouts of depression for “a few decades.”

Watching it now, I feel like I went from “Baywatch” to Broadway. I don’t know what happened in between, it’s all a big blur,” she began.

“I’m just happy to be here right now because I think I’ve had depression for a few decades,” she said.

‘I never thought I would stand on the podium and receive such an award. I just want to keep working. I’m excited to do more,” she admitted.

Her revival began with the 2023 documentary Pamela, a Love Story, along with her memoir Love Pamela.

“Ryan (White) created that document and that’s how Gia saw me. “I always knew I was capable of more,” she says