Actress Review:

Jamie Lee Curtis: The Ultimate Scream Queen

Jamie Lee Curtis was born on November 22, 1958 in Los Angeles, California (A place for big time movie & TV stars) to the parents two legendary actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Four years after her birth, her parents filed for a divorce.

In the late 70's she decided to give acting a shot follow her parents' footsteps but had to tough it out on her own. She had fears of getting fired since she knew that the acting business can get nasty. She had acting gigs by guesting in TV shows at Universal Studios in Hollywood working in Glen A. Larson Productions. Her first gig was a walk on role in an episode of the series 'Quincy' and then a year later she won a supporting guest role playing a tough biker named Mary in the 'Nancy Drew Mysteries' along with Robert Englund. During that same year she played a waitress in a movie of the week titled 'Columbo: The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case.'

While still guesting in TV shows like in 'Charlie's Angels', 'The Love Boat' and 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century' as well as being a semi-regular in the series 'Operation Petticoat' as Lt. Barbara Duran based on the 1959 movie that starred her father, Tony Curtis, she finally got her big break by starring in John Carpenter's cult classic 'Halloween' with Donald Pleasance which she played an adopted teen named Laurie Strode and was the biological sister of a blood thirsty killer named Michael Myers who swears to make his family members exctinct. At first critics bomberd the film when it hit the box office but the film grew more and more to cult viewers which led on to more work in horror films for Jamie. She starred in Carpenters next flick called 'The Fog' which also had the same people who worked in the 'Halloween' flick as well as two of the other actors Nancy Loomis and Charles Cyphers. Not only that, this was the first film that her mother Janet starred with her daughter in which she too had a part in. Jamie plays a travelling hitchhiker named Elizabeth Solley. She starts dating the guy who picked her up one night while he was driving home from work. She thinks she's bad luck since terrible things have happened since. The film went to theatre's in early 1980 and shortly after, she returned to the slasher genre in 'Prom Night' which was shot in Canada and it starred Leslie Neilson. In this one she played a triplet sister named Kim Hammond whom her friends accidentally murdered her sister during their childhood but it was kept a secret until the night of her prom. Before 1980 came to an end she played a college student named Alana Maxwell in 'Terror Train' about a masked killer targets six college kids responsible for a prank gone wrong years earlier and whom are currently throwing a large New Year's Eve costume party aboard a moving train. Afterwards, she slowly moved on to starring in non-horror b-films like 'Roadgames' and the TV-movie 'She's in the Army Now' but during this same year she did reprise her role as Laurie Strode in the first sequel to 'Halloween.' Even if these horror films were just a handful for her fans crowned her as the most beloved scream queen as well as nicknaming her that name and was featured in numerous horror film compliations and even hosted on 'Saturday Night Live' due to her fame.

She moved on to starring in numerous big time motion pictures working with top celebrities like Dany Aykroyd and John Cleese in 'Trading Places', 'Grandview USA', 'A Fish Called Wanda', 'Blue Steel', 'My Girl', 'Forever Young', 'Mother's Boys', 'True Lies', 'The Heidi Chronicles', 'House Arrest' and 'Fierce Creatures.' With all this to her credit some viewers forgot that she started out acting in low budget horror films which she said goodbye to.

However, she did return as Laurie Strode for the third time in a direct sequel to 'Halloween II' in 'Halloween:H2O: Twenty Years Later' only to kill of Michael Myers in the end. She focused on being a full time Mom during this time period as she adopted two kids and acted part time working in films like 'Virus' and 'Drowning Mona' plus doing voice overs for animated shows. She was asked to have a cameo in 'Scream 3' but she declined. Producers decided to make another 'Halloween' sequel titled 'Halloween: Resurrection' and Jamie agreed to return to it but only to be killed off in the beginning of the film. She got a paid salary of $3,000,000 for her work in it.

She recently is starring in family films like 'Freaky Friday' and 'Christmas with the Kranks' but she announced that she has retired from film acting.

Jamie has been married to actor Christopher Guest since December 18, 1984 which she saw him on an issue of a Rolling Stone magazine and it was love at first sight and a couple years back she won a 2003 Grammy nomination in the Best Spoken Album for Children category for her recording of the children's books she has written. She also admits that horror films terrifies her and she prefers not to watch them. This may be a shock to you horror fanatics but it's true. Even if Jamie doesn't work anymore she will always be remembered as a versatile actress and will be rich for life.

Halloween 1978 This is where Jamie got her start after her roles in TV shows and to a journey of a scream queen and the first horror movie I spotted her in as I saw her in her more publicised films that were non-horror. But I loved her in this genre the best. She plays the biological sister of the killer Michael Myers named Laurie Strode as Michael escapes from the mental hospital discovering that he has a younger sister who was adopted to another family. She briefly spots him watching her on Halloween day not knowing who he is and gets freaked by all this. Then she babysits for her neighbors on Halloween night. This is when Michael moves in for the kill but first he kills his partying friends in the neighborhood as Laurie goes accross the street to where her friends are hanging out as one of her stuck up friends is supposed to be babysitting as well and not having guests over. She sees that the house is too quiet and then Michael plans to move in for the kill as he wants to have all his family members dead! Jamie was great in her role like she always does in any of her shows. I loved her freaking out and running away from Michael as well as getting peeved by her friend Annie who we all love to hate. She reprised her role in the first sequel as well as in H20 (1998) (To kill off Michael in the end) and Resurrection (2002) (Only to get killed off in the beginning) This one was put down by alot of critics but it became a cult classic in the years to follow plus it helped John Carpneter become a big named for his futite films.

The Fog 1980 Ahh yesss! This was like a 'Halloween' reunion as this piece was also directed by John Carpenter as well as by the same makers and a couple of the same cast members too. Jamie's Mom came on board to co-star in this film too as it was their first mother daughter working together. Although I liked 'Halloween' better, I like Jamie's character better in this one as she plays a traveller named Elizabeth Solley who enjoys doing artwork. The guy who picks her up is an older man but they have a romance together which was a bonus for Elizabeth as they are two very nice people. However, Liz thinks she's bad luck as the guy's car windows break and other bad stuff happening. But what is really happening is a glowing fog is hovering over their small town leading to ghost of dead pirates killing people away whenever the fog covers over them so they are on a chase from these ghouls. This film was very creepy and it inspired new makers to do a remake. Jamie certainly screams in this one in a few scenes.

Prom Night 1980 Jamie now plays a triplet sister to a brother and another sister named Kim Hammond. She is amazing in this disco teen slasher flick and quite a good disco dancer too even if the acting is very outdated in it. In the beginning a bunch of children are playing a game in an abandoned school and the Hammond triplets are walking home. Kim's sister checks out their game and accidentally gets killed. The kids keep it a secret and years later Kim's mother can't shake off her daughters death still as they visit her tombstone. Kim is dating one of the guy's who was responsible but still he keeps it a secret and Kim's father is the school principal which is played by Leslie Nielson. They all get prank phone calls before the night of the prom by a mysterious killer. Kim will be nominated as prom queen but a nasty prank happens caused by the school bully but the bully is beheaded by the killer while he killed off all of Kim's other friends who were at the events as when they were little. One family member in the Hammond vein hasn't overcome the death of the triplet sister of Kim's and Kim is in for a big surprise to find out who is killing these people. The film is very sad at the end of it but Jamie was great with the fighting battle with her and the killer as well as the one who played her boyfriend caught in this death battle. It sure is a memory when there were disco dances, roller skating and bellbottoms. This flick inspired many other highschool slasher flicks during the 80's like 'Graduation Day' as well as the 90's films 'Scream' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' If you haven't chedcked Jamie in this one go to your DVD/video rental place and check it out now!

Terror Train 1980 This one was probably as low budget horror as you can get with Curtis involved. Jamie plays a graduating student at the Sigma Phi named Alana Maxwell. For her grad gift, her and her friends are all taking a New Years Eve cruise on a stream train as they all wear their fraternity costumes and play pranks on one another. However, a masked killer disguised as one of her fraternity friends is also on board too as there was a fraternity prank that went wrong 3 years before and somehow she was involved with the incident. The killer seems to wait for her for last. Beforehand she enjoys the disco dancing room and the other events. Jamie's screaming and running away from the killer is very similar to her role as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween' so all you fans may love her to death in this one. An interesting 80's New Years Eve slasher flick which almost had similar elements to other films like 'Hell Night' but the events were in a train.

Roadgames 1981 Jamie was slowly moving on to non-horror films by having a good supporting role in this one. She is a traveller in this one too like she was in 'The Fog' as the person who picked her up named her Hitch. He is an eccentric truck driver (PLayed by Stacy Keach) as he witnesses a murder along his way. Him and Hitch tries to track him down but Hitch is kidnapped by the murderer. Jamie doesn't appear in this film until halfway through so it's a surprise waiting for her appearance. This flick was made on a low budget but it's a well done flick and it's very mysterious. You won't be disappointed as you'll all wonder what happened to Jamie's character. Is she alive or killed? Find out by renting this.

Love Letters 1984 This film was a major bore. It tries so hard to be a good story but it lacks. It was written and directed by Amy Holden Jones who did the same for the trashy T&A slasher film 'Slumber Party Massacre' Although her directing was better her writing weasn't and it was made on a similar budget as you can tell but this is not a horror film. Jamie plays the role of a classical radio disc jockey named Anna Winter who experiences her mother death and reads the love letters to a guy who was her original father she never met and her mother was only having an affair with. Instead she marries and alcholoic which Anna had to encounter his abusive actions while growing up. Suddenly Anna has a steamy affair with one of her fans which is a model photographer and likes the idea. Jamie is nude in it which may shock you fans as you all remember her usually not performing nude in films. But then she loves him too much causing her to have an identity crisis. The acting in this one was good which saves this film from bombing but even you Curtis fans will probably agree with me that this isn't one of her best films.

Grandview, U.S.A. 1984 Now this one was an improvement as Jamie plays a tomboy named who runs a car crash event and also works in the tow truck business. A graduating teen named Tim Person (C. Thomas Howell) has a crush on her when he set his eyes on her asking to get his car out of a ditch . But an obnoxious tow truck driver named Slam (Patrick Swayze) also wants her. This causes war for the two of them. Tim always dreams of acting in a rock video and her appearing with him in it but she shows no interest in him. Later on they form a relationship as Tim is having troubles at home and crashes at her house for the night but gets busted by Slam when he enters her trailer the next morning. Jamie does perform nude but is brief. This was a great drama with a touch of comedy in it and has a terrific cast in it other than Jamie too. This film was promising for her moving out of the b-film industry.

Perfect 1985 This one nearly damaged her career but she survived. I was a John Travolta fan. This was during Travolta's has-been years as he plays a scum bag tabloid reporter for Rolling Stone magazine and meets up with an aerobic instructor named Jesse which is played by Jamie as he wants to do a story on health clubs. They start seeing one another. He tries to destroy her career for Rolling Stone incuding interviewing their conversations and their personal lives together which enrages her. Jamie apparently only ate one meal a day for her part in this film and worked out alot. She also trained for several months before shooting began. All the scenes that show her leading classes were filmed first, with the narrative and dramatic sequences shot next. The last sequence filmed was the closing credits workout. She also filmed a music video with Jermaine Jackson to promote the movie. This film was supposed to be romantic but the story was sad and sank terribly. However, I loved it when Jamie Lee Curtis insulted Travolta's character for what he did to her career on her health club plus I loved Carly Simon's cameo in it.

Blue Steel 1990 A nicely done thriller of Jamie playing a tough as nails rookie cop named Megan Turner who witnesses a robbery in a store and kills the criminal before he kills her. This causes alot of controversy for her at the police station almost jeapordising her career. Also there is another psychotic killer who saw this scene in the store and takes the criminals gun and goes on a killing spree. He becomes obsessed with Megan and Megan starts dating this fellow not realising that he too is a killer when she is trying to uncover a mystery after finding dead bodies. Also she can't cope with her family as her father abuses her mother and wondering if she should turn her father in. The story is filled with suspense and made Jamie well respected by viewers who saw it. You'll love her role in it.

My Girl 1991 This was the first time I spotted Jamie in a show which was this one and loved it. It was a very heartwarming tale taking place in the early 70's. Her role is a caring person named Shelley DeVoto who has been hired by a funeral parlour caretaker named Harry (Played by Dan Aykroyd) to do make up for the dead bodies during funreral events. She falls in love with him and starts living with him. There she encounters his daughter named Vada (Anna Chlumsky) who is very imaginary in a happy way and talks to her mother up in heaven and hangs out with her best friend named Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin) who is a boy younger than her and is very eccentric and allergic to many things. When Vada discovers that her dad is seeing Shelley she doesn't adjust to this as she hasn't gotten over her mothers death trying to find any way to break them up. Shelley also encounters his mother who has a few screws loose. This makes life tough for Shelley to adjust to but she tries to find every way to make things the best for all of them. Towards the ending for this film was very emotional. This one was followed by a sequel as Jamie reprises her role in it.

Mother's Boys 1994 Oooh yesss! Jamie plays a psychopath in this one which was very different for her indeed. Jamie plays a divorced mother named Jude Madigan who left her husband and kids 3 years ago for no paricular reason and returns to visit her children with nasty plans for all of them. At first she tries to seem loving and caring to her kids but to the grown ups like her ex-husband and his girlfriend she shows an evil and dark side to her. She also tries to poison her kids minds to do evil deeds to their father's girlfriend making out that she is wicked and nasty and won't do anything to stop this situation until she is dead. This was one of Jamie's best perfromances of all time and if you have seen this you all will probably agree with me. When you see her in the beginning you would really want her but then in the end you'd want her out of your life.

True Lies 1994 This was Jamie's best performance I found and her best film I thought. It was hilarious with lots of action. She is a businesswoman named Helen Tasker with a loving husband named Harry (Arnold Schwartznegger) and a family. Things seem to go well but Harry thinks that she is having an affair and gets his friend to do a test in a dark room without her seeing him or knowing that he is behind all of this. Jamie is hilarious when she goes nuts and tries to use a chair to smash the glass that Arnold's character is behind. She is also funny at prending to be sexy for her next test to see if her affair was real or not. I loved the stunts in this when she goes on an adventure while being kidnapped. This one was considered to be her top film for her acting career and all you fans of her's will love it I guarantee you.

Virus 1999 Some of you might've thought that after Jamie's role in 'Halloween: H20' was marking her retirement from acting but don't be upset shortly after, she played the lead role in this one named Kelly Foster, a tugboat passenger along with Donald Sutherland and William Baldwin who take refuge from a storm in a seemingly abandoned Russian intelligence post. They find out that a crew was killed off by aliens as they were considered a virus. Kelly and her people are cornered by them as whenever someone turns into a victim they are transformed into these killer type machines. I have seen this at theatre's but don't remember it extremely well, but I liked it. I have seen a couple of other movies starring jamie that aren't listed on here for similar reasons.