Pamela Anderson almost 'got killed' on a plane. The attacker mistook her for this country singer.

In a shocking revelation that sounds more like a Hollywood script than real life, Pamela Anderson shared the frightening story of how she was nearly attacked mid-flight after being mistaken for someone else during one of America's most politically charged periods.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz to promote her new film The Last Showgirl, Anderson recalled the terrifying incident when asked about cases of mistaken identity.

Watch Pamela Anderson talking about her role in The Last Showgirl. Article continues after video.

"One time, I was on a flight and this guy came up to me and said, 'Do you know what this country's done for you?'" Anderson recounted, noting that she was initially baffled by the confrontation. "And I was like, 'Oh my God, what have I done?'"

The situation then escalated rapidly from uncomfortable to dangerous when the man tried to attack Anderson.

"I would look back at him, and he would be like, 'Grrr,' and I'd be like, 'Oh my God,'" she continued, describing the mounting tension in the confined space of the aircraft. The threat became so serious that airline staff were forced to take dramatic action, with "this stewardess having to handcuff him to the chair because he was trying to attack [her]."

A man tried to attack Anderson on a flight. Image: Getty.

As it turns out, however, the man was not after Anderson at all. He had mistaken her for a member of country group, The Chicks.

"It ended up he thought I was a Dixie Chick," Anderson said.

"Remember that whole Dixie Chick thing? Yeah. I almost got killed on a plane."

The case of mistaken identity occurred during a particularly volatile time in American history. The Chicks (then known as The Dixie Chicks) had become controversial figures after lead singer Natalie Maines expressed disapproval of the U.S.'s war in Iraq during a London concert on March 10, 2003.

Just days before U.S. and allied forces invaded Iraq, Maines had stated the group was "ashamed" that then-president George W. Bush was from Texas, The Chicks' home state.

"We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas," Maines said.

In a post-9/11 world when American patriotism was high, Maines' comments — particularly as the lead singer of one of the nation's most successful country groups — sparked nationwide controversy and led to radio bans, death threats, and public burning of their albums.

While Maines initially apologised for her comments a few days later, she later rescinded her apology, and in 2006, the group addressed the controversy and its impact in the documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing.

The Dixie Chicks were at the centre of controversy in 2003. Image: Getty.

As for Anderson, she seemingly took the incident in stride — after all, she's had quite an eventful life herself.

After the host joked that the encounter was about the "400th most weird thing that's happened" in Anderson's life, she agreed.

"Yeah, that's minor. I was scared to fly after that a little bit, but you know," she said.

Talk about a bad case of the wrong place at the wrong time.

Feature Image: Getty