Former Baywatch icon Erika Eleniak appeared strikingly different from her famous lifeguard persona during a rare public outing in Los Angeles. The 56-year-old actress attended 'The Brave and the Rescued' event, honouring LA Fire Department first responders, at the LA City Fire Museum on Saturday. The fundraiser marked the first anniversary of the region's devastating wildfires.
A World Away from the Beach
In stark contrast to her role as the swimsuit-clad Shauni McClain, Eleniak showcased a collection of intricate arm tattoos at the event. The actress, who starred on the hit 90s series from 1989 to 1992 alongside David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, has long since embraced body art as a personal canvas. She began getting inked in her 20s and now views her tattoos as significant markers of her life's journey.
"I love tattoos," Eleniak revealed on the Still Here Hollywood podcast. "I love that my body is a canvas to tell my stories." One tattoo on her inner arm is a dedicated tribute to her late mother, Irish.
From ET to Under Siege: A Varied Career
Eleniak's career began far from the sunny Baywatch beaches. She made her film debut in Steven Spielberg's 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' in 1982, playing the girl who kisses Henry Thomas's character. Her career path included becoming a Playboy Playmate in July 1989, a role she has always described as a modelling job rather than a defining identity.
Following her departure from Baywatch after its third season, she secured roles in films like 'Under Siege' (1992), 'The Beverly Hillbillies' (1993), and 'A Pyromaniac's Love Story' (1995). However, she has spoken openly about the challenges of being typecast after her iconic TV role, stating she had to work "three times as hard" to be taken seriously as an actress.
Behind the Scenes of an Iconic Show
The glamorous image of Baywatch hid some uncomfortable filming realities. Eleniak recently recalled that the famous beach runs were often shot in the cold of January, with massive lights used to simulate summer sun. "I remember running in the water on the coldest day of the year," she told Fox News. "Our lips were so blue that we couldn't use the footage."
Since her peak fame, Eleniak's life has evolved significantly. She was briefly married to bodybuilder Philip Goglia in 1998 and later wed film worker Roch Daigle in 2005, with whom she has a daughter. Her most recent project was narrating the 2023 podcast series 'The Murder Years', and she appeared as herself in the 2024 film 'Lolipop Gang'.
Her appearance at the LA firefighter fundraiser serves as a reminder of her enduring connection to the city where her career began and her continued, though more private, presence in the entertainment world.
