Jamie Lee Curtis has shown a lot of range throughout her career. She’s done it all,
from starring in Disney films like "Freaky Friday” to consistently proving she's a
scream queen in classic horror movies like "Halloween" and its sequels. Curtis is also
somewhat of an open book and isn't afraid to talk about her personal life. So perhaps
it's unsurprising that the actress has discussed trying and disregarding plastic surgery and
Botox.
Born in 1958, Curtis is the daughter of "Psycho" star Janet Leigh and legendary actor Tony
Curtis. While she has worked steadily since the late '70s, Curtis has discussed her ups
and downs in the movie business at length. Here's how plastic surgery affected Jamie
Lee Curtis' career, according to the actress herself.
In an interview with More in 2002, the "Scream Queens" star revealed that she had undergone
several cosmetic procedures, including Botox and liposuction. However, Curtis wasn't impressed
with the results and told More,
"Ten years ago, before anybody did that, I had fat taken from underneath my eyes because
I was on a movie and I was puffy. [...] And I can remember the cameraman saying, 'I can't
shoot her.' [...] I was mortified."
"I don't think you understand. I don't want to be the focus of anything."
Curtis also revealed that it was while filming 1985's "Perfect" opposite John Travolta that
she was shamed for her appearance and, as a result, had plastic surgery. As she told
The New Yorker,
"I underwent an eye job when I was thirty-five years old because, one day, I was on the movie
'Perfect,' and Gordon Willis, the great cameraman, looked at me and said, 'Yeah, I'm not shooting
her today.' I was puffy that day, for whatever reason."
It's undeniable that there's serious pressure on women to look a certain way, especially
in the entertainment industry. But going under the knife, or having a needle inserted into
your face, is a huge decision to make that doesn't always work for everyone. As Curtis
told More,
"Nobody tells you that if you take fat from your body in one place, it comes back in another
place."
Curtis also got candid about some of the plastic surgery procedures she's had, telling More,
"I've had a little lipo(suction), I've had a little Botox [...] And you know what? None
of it works."
She also addressed the fact that having plastic surgery was encouraged, as she explained to
More,
"And there is this illusion that once you do it then you'll be fine [...] I looked worse.
Worse." During the interview, Curtis discussed body
image at length, telling readers,
"I don't have great thighs [...] I have very big breasts and a soft, fatty little tummy.
And I've got back fat. [...] People assume I'm walking around in little spaghetti strap
dresses. [...] There's a reality to the way I look without my clothes on."
Basically, the "Knives Out" star began to realize that she didn't want to keep up with
the unrealistic beauty standards of Hollywood, especially as they didn't mesh with her own
reality. During her interview with The New Yorker in 2019, Jamie Lee Curtis elaborated
on her decision to open up about plastic surgery, explaining,
"I knew I was going to do the cover of More. I said, here's the deal: I will take a picture
in my underwear, with no makeup, no hair, no fancy lights, with my body the way it is,
if you promise you will print that, head to toe, on a separate page, and then print the
picture of me fully glammed-out on the next page."
She continued,
"That was my deal with them, in order to talk about the reality of self-esteem, and about
the fact that I had undergone plastic surgery, which is where I first found Vicodin."
In fact, Curtis attributes her negative experience filming "Perfect," and the subsequent plastic
surgery she underwent on her eyes to reduce puffiness, with her developing an addiction
to painkillers. As she told The New Yorker of the 1985 film,
"Right after that movie I went and had an eye job. That's when I found Vicodin, and
the cycle of addiction began with that."
"I'm sober today. Am I going to be sober for the rest of my life? I hope so."
In 2019, Curtis revealed that February 2020 would mark the 21st anniversary of her sobriety.
While her experiences with plastic surgery and addiction might have had an impact on
her movie career, the actress's honesty is invaluable, and it’s sure to help a lot
of people who are dealing with the same issues.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Administration's 24/7 National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. That's 1-800-662-4357.