Jamie Lee Curtis has been a strong advocate against Hollywood’s plastic surgery and ageism culture. In a recent, wide-ranging interview, she articulated her vision for these issues rather forcefully. She said it was very important to her that we get her opinions right. Curtis won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” She has long challenged the industry’s demand — the expectations placed on women.
At 66, Curtis is at an age where she can say what she wants, and be as honest as she wants. She elucidated her thoughts in this statement emailed by her publicist the day prior to the meeting. In that note, she shared her vision and ideas behind a recent editorial photoshoot. “I’ve used that word for a long time and I use it specifically because it’s a strong word,” she stated, referring to the impact of cosmetic surgery on women’s lives.
Curtis has kept a decades-long friendship with Lindsay Lohan, since the two first worked together on 2003’s Freaky Friday. She describes herself as “bossy, very bossy, but I try to mind my own business,” a sentiment that reflects her confidence in her position within the industry. She thinks that at this point in her life, she’s fully deserved the right to call the shots.
The actress has been candid about her plastic surgery experiences in the past. At 25 years old, she got a nose job after hearing disparaging remarks about her looks while on set. “You know, honestly, I’ve done enough analysis of all this – it’s control,” she confessed, highlighting the underlying psychological factors that influence such decisions.
Curtis harshly condemns the toxic culture that coerces women into compliance with the help of beauty boosters. He thinks this expectation starts way before they are even 30. “The external costs are awful for people, but the internal costs are more sinister and deadly,” she explained. Her worry is about so much more than appearance. She argues that society has substituted out centuries of realistic human look for an unattainable standard.
Her daughter, actress Annie O’Donnell, has inspired her mother to lean into her weirdness. “My daughter Annie says: ‘People aren’t ready for you.’ I basically say: ‘Well, that’s their problem. They should be ready,’” Curtis shared. That assistance strikes a chord with Curtis as she moves with purpose among her personal and professional worlds.
In light of this moment, Curtis reflected on her career and women and the horror aspects of Hollywood. She spoke candidly and powerfully about her family throughout this reflection. She saw how her parents suffered when they became elderly and were rejected by an industry that would cruelly abandon them once their success ran out. “Here’s what’s traumatic: not being able to express your range as an artist,” she lamented, underscoring the limitations placed on performers as they age.
For someone who’s had a relationship with Hollywood stretching back to before she could speak, Curtis says she has felt like she was retired—though it was self-imposed—for 31 years. “I have been holding back something I know is there for 40 years,” she expressed, indicating a desire for creative expression that has been stifled by industry norms.
As she steps more fully into her queer identity as she enters her 60s, Curtis leans into a self-deprecating description of herself. “I refer to myself as an Everest bottom; I am the highest bottom I know,” she humorously stated, showcasing her ability to blend seriousness with levity.