Born:
November 22, 1958
in
California
Best Known For:
Trading Places.
Early-life:
Born in Los Angeles, California, on November 22, 1958, the daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Her parents divorced in 1962. She has an older sister and four half-siblings from her father's subsequent marriages. Jamie Lee attended both Westlake School in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills High School before studying at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She considered majoring in social work, but left after a semester to pursue an acting career.
Career:
Curtis's film debut came in the smash-hit 1978 horror Halloween; she's appeared in several sequels. After several more horror movies, she established herself as a major talent. Her role in 1983's Trading Places helped establish her as a sex symbol. Five years later, A Fish Called Wanda was a huge hit, and showcased her as a first-rate comic actress. She won a Golden Globe for her work in 1994's True Lies. Other film roles include Disney's Freaky Friday, opposite Lindsay Lohan. In October 2006, Curtis announced she had quit acting to focus on family. However, she soon returned to showbusiness with appearances in Beverly Hills Chihuahua and NCIS.
Quote:
'The more I like me, the less I want to pretend to be other people.'
Trivia:
She is also a children's novelist and a recovering alcohol and pain-killer addict.