The Academy Museum of Movement Footage in Los Angeles is dwelling to the treasures of the movie world – and that is the place we met one in all them.
"That is my hometown, proper right here, all of it," mentioned Jamie Lee Curtis, overlooking Hollywood.
"That is the place you grew up, that is the place you raised your youngsters?" requested correspondent Tracy Smith.
"I did. I imply, it is bizarre, and exquisite."
And for Curtis, "bizarre" and "lovely" could be simply the phrases to explain her life.
She's identified for a very good soar scare, however in additional than 40 years within the enterprise she's additionally been the one who might maintain our consideration – and make us maintain our breath. And her finest work, she mentioned, is available in these moments when she will simply let free.
"Once I'm free, I am improbable," she mentioned. "It is a bizarre job. However after I could be free, I'm unstoppable in the whole lot. It is simply who I'm."
"And when did you're feeling the freest?"
"Work-wise? I imply, Deirdre, I am flying!"
And he or she actually does fly: on this 12 months's "All the pieces In all places All at As soon as," her character, Deirdre Beaubeirdre, is an airborne assailant – and, in an alternate universe, she's an excellent scarier villain: an IRS Auditor.
"Now, it's possible you'll solely see a pile of boring varieties and numbers, however I see a narrative. With nothing however a stack of receipts, I can hint the ups and downs of your lives. And it doesn't look good. It doesn't ... look ... good."
Curtis mentioned, "I do know ladies like Deirdre Beaubeirdre. I feel all of us do. All of us have had so many disappointments, so many alternatives that then break your coronary heart. And I feel that Deirdre's coronary heart has simply been damaged. I do know her. And I really like her."
Critics liked her, too. Oscar speak is already within the air. It is the logical results of arduous work, expertise, and perhaps good genes.
Her mom, Janet Leigh, famously scared us out of the bathe in "Psycho." However she was additionally somebody who might maintain her personal in a scene with Frank Sinatra, in "The Manchurian Candidate." And her dad, Tony Curtis, was a legend of his personal.
Jamie Lee was the second of their two daughters.
Smith requested, "You've got referred to as your self the save-the-marriage child?"
"Yeah, completely. Certain."
"That did not save the wedding?"
"My dad and mom divorced after I was three," mentioned Curtis. "It was horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible. I used to be additionally raised by my mother, who got here from nothing and handled this business, like, with large vast eyes. I haven't got large vast eyes about it. I perceive the business. However I've the identical gratitude for it."
"Are you in any approach like your dad?"
"Oh, positive, positive, positive. He would like to stroll into an enormous room, Hey, everybody. Hey, It is Tony. Hey. , he liked it. He liked the efficiency of Tony Curtis. And I am caught within the center."
And like each of her dad and mom, Curtis went on to be a star, but it surely appears she was luckier in love than they have been. She mentioned she fell in love with actor/director Christopher Visitor after seeing his photograph in a magazine in 1984. "I used to be with my buddy Debra Hill, and I mentioned to Debra, 'Oh. Huh. I am gonna marry that man.' And he or she mentioned, 'Who?' I mentioned, 'That one proper there. I am gonna marry him.'" Lengthy story quick, it really occurred later that 12 months.
She mentioned he can drop her to the ground with laughter, and so can her co-stars, not all the time a very good factor on a film set. Smith requested, "I learn someplace that you've got a trick. How do you retain a straight face?"
"I've stepped on a thumbtack. I've put it my shoe. And if I am standing there, I am going to simply push my heel down on it. As a result of I've to. It's important to distract your mind."
"And it labored?"
"Oh, it really works superbly."
Nonetheless, she's finest identified for a critical position: Laurie Strode of the "Halloween" sequence. She was 19 when she was first solid in John Carpenter's horror traditional. And this 12 months's "Halloween Ends" is (reportedly) her last bow.
To look at a trailer for "Halloween Ends" click on on the video participant beneath:
To Curtis, the Laurie Strode position was greater than a component in a film; she mentioned it was a bridge to the whole lot she ever needed. "Each time I speak about it I cry. Due to what it is given me."
"What has it given you?"
"My total life. My total life is due to Laurie Strode. I do not know what would've occurred. I do know I'd've by no means discovered any success. And simply the truth that individuals cared about her a lot – highly effective to have that. Unimaginable respect I've for it. And really feel very honored by it, and proud."
Curtis additionally runs an internet enterprise referred to as My Hand in Yours, promoting the whole lot from bronze sculptures of clasping palms to hats at hand sanitizer, with each cent going to learn Kids's Hospital Los Angeles. "My little firm has virtually raised 1,000,000 dollars in two years," she mentioned.
At this level in her life, a lot of it's about giving again. She purchased the naming rights to one of many Academy Museum's structural pillars and devoted to a few pillars of the business: her dad and mom.
"There she is," she mentioned. "She's proper there. However see, what I like is, see, they only left it completely rough-hewn. Nevertheless it's cool!"
And perhaps it is no shock that Jamie Lee Curtis, who's confronted down demise again and again within the motion pictures, has a reasonably clear concept of what she'd like to go away behind.
Smith requested, "When you consider what your individual legacy will probably be, what do you assume?"
"I hope my legacy will probably be kindness," Curtis mentioned, "that I get it, that life is difficult. And I actually really feel like I am conscious that life is absolutely arduous for individuals. Possibly humor, just a little humor could be good. Do not take it so f***ing critical. , simply, like, lighten it up a bit. However kindness. On the finish of the day I hope it is kindness."
For more information:
- "All the pieces In all places All at As soon as," in theaters and on VOD
- "Halloween Ends," in theaters and streaming on Peacock
- Comply with Jamie Lee Curtis on Twitter, Fb and Instagram
- My Hand in Yours
- Academy Museum of Movement Footage, Los Angeles
Story produced by John D'Amelio. Editor: Lauren Barnello.
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