Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis is an American actress, producer, and children's author. Known for her performances in horror and slasher genres alongside comedies, she is widely regarded as a scream queen. As of 2023, her films have grossed over $2.5 billion at the box office. Over her career, she has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globes, and two Actor Awards, alongside a nomination for a Grammy Award.

Curtis was born on November 22, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, to actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Her father was Jewish and a son of emigrants from Hungary, while her mother was of Danish, German, and Scotch-Irish descent. Following her parents' divorce in 1962, she was raised by her mother and stepfather, stockbroker Robert Brandt. She attended the Harvard-Westlake School and Beverly Hills High School before graduating from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1976. She briefly studied law at the University of the Pacific before dropping out after one semester to pursue an acting career.

Curtis made her screen debut in a 1977 episode of the television drama Quincy, M.E. Her breakthrough came when she starred as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter's 1978 horror film Halloween. The role established her as a prominent scream queen and led to starring roles in horror films such as The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train in 1980. She reprised her role in six Halloween sequels, concluding with Halloween Ends in 2022, and later starred in the satirical slasher series Scream Queens.

Curtis successfully transitioned into comedy and mainstream film, winning a BAFTA Award for her performance in Trading Places (1983). She earned brief recognition as a sex symbol for her role in Perfect (1985) and won her first Golden Globe Award for the television sitcom Anything but Love (1989–1992). Her comedic and dramatic roles continued with A Fish Called Wanda (1988), True Lies (1994)—for which she earned a second Golden Globe—and the comedy Freaky Friday (2003).

Her extensive film credits also include Blue Steel, My Girl, The Tailor of Panama, Christmas with the Kranks, Knives Out, The Last Showgirl, and Freakier Friday. On television, she earned her first Emmy nomination for the 1998 film Nicholas' Gift and later won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in The Bear. She has also held recurring roles on series such as New Girl and NCIS.

Beyond acting, Curtis is a successful author of children's books that have reached The New York Times best-seller list. Her performance in the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once brought her further acclaim, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.