10 best celebrity stories of the week

Pamela Anderson is not a virgin (we've heard), but she plays one on TV. The nude photo vet and sex tape superstar has been cast to play the Virgin Mary in a Canadian Christmas special. The Hollywood Reporter says Anderson's turn as the virgin has caused a stir in Catholic publications north of the border, but the comedian behind the casting is defending his choice. “I didn't even think of the other side of Pam Anderson, which is so long ago, it's like come on, give the chick a break already,” Russell Peters told CTV News Channel on Monday. Peters will play Joseph to Anderson's Mary in “A Russell Peters Christmas Special,” which will air on Canadian channels. The special will be reminiscent of a '70s-style variety show, Peters averred. “We had written the sketch and we didn't know who we were putting in it and we thought, hey, Pam Anderson is Canadian, we can use more Canadian people in this show,” Peters said.