Creative, compassionate, and humble. These are just a few words to describe actress, humanitarian and children's author Jamie Lee Curtis. With a career spanning four decades, Curtis is known primarily for her roles in horror films in addition to dramatic and comedic roles. One of the most prolific actresses of her generation, Curtis has earned several awards including a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Oscar. In celebration of her 65th birthday on November 22, we're taking a look at Curtis's most iconic performances.
In 1978, Curtis made her film debut as babysitter Laurie Strode in the slasher classic Halloween. This is Curtis's best-known role, and she has reprised it in six Halloween sequels, concluding with Halloween Ends. The role established Curtis not only as a serious actress but a scream queen as well. She followed the original Halloween with similar roles in films such as The Fog.
A decade after her film debut, Curtis made the transition into more comedic roles. In the 1988 classic A Fish Called Wanda, her portrayal of the witty femme fatale Wanda Gershwitz earned her critical acclaim in addition to a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Curtis's comedy streak continued as psychiatrist Dr. Tess Coleman in the 2003 classic Freaky Friday. In this remake of the 1976 original, Curtis and Lindsay Lohan portray a mother and daughter whose bodies are switched by a mysterious and magical Chinese fortune. The film's success earned Curtis a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
No one wins when the family feuds. This is a lesson the Thrombey family learns the hard way in the murder mystery comedy Knives Out. Curtis portrays the hard-nosed and snobbish Linda Thrombey, the eldest child of crime writer Harlan Thrombey, whose death is surrounded by a web of red herrings and family dysfunction.
The world needs saving, and it's up to Evelyn Quan Wang and her alternate selves to do so. In Everything Everywhere All at Once, she needs all the help she can get. As the persnickety IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre, Curtis delivers a witty and dazzling performance that ultimately earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
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