As the daughter of screen legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis has borne the mark of the Nepo baby her entire life, but since her film debut in John Carpenter’s 1978 classic “Halloween,” she has gone her own way despite preconceived opinions.
As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Curtis shared the stage with Carpenter at the American Film Institute (AFI) honorary doctorate ceremony this weekend at the TCL Chinese Theater, acknowledging his role in making her name and the educational difficulties she had to endure on the way to achieving her goal.
“We did ‘Halloween’ and it made all of us famous, but especially Jamie Lee,” Carpenter said as he presented Curtis with her doctorate in fine arts. “She became the queen of horror movies; I’m not sure she wanted that. I’ve followed Jamie’s career over the years and seen her grow as an actress, and finally, finally she won an Oscar – and deservedly so. She’s an incredible talent.”
As she took the podium, Curtis returned the praise, telling Carpenter, “Thank you for my whole life, John. I’m telling you now, without you, none of this would have been possible… thank you, thank you.”
In her address to the faculty, students and families in the audience, as well as her own friends and daughter who came to support her, Curtis called herself an “underachiever” and expressed her belief that “she shouldn’t really be here” to receive this doctorate.
“I wasn’t a student. I couldn’t learn,” Curtis said. “The placement system didn’t work for me. Today I would be diagnosed with something, but back then I just didn’t learn, I couldn’t figure it out. And somehow I ended up in college with my combined SAT scores of 840. Combined. You add the two together.”
Curtis further explained that, like her parents before her, she “became an actress by accident,” and that while formal training can be helpful, it is not always the most important thing.
“You don’t have to have a degree to be an artist. Knowledge is helpful, but it’s not a requirement,” Curtis said. “I am the representation of an accidental artist, and yet I now stand fully as one in my body, mind and soul.”
Curtis shared some hard-earned wisdom and urged the graduates to keep their minds “free.”
“Let yourself express yourself,” she said. “Because if you express yourself freely, you will eventually become John Carpenter and then change the world and the lives of people like me.”
Curtis reflected on her beginnings and her desire to create her own identity. She concluded her speech by acknowledging the work that lies ahead for the graduates and encouraging them to embrace it.
“Don’t get lazy,” she said. “Don’t think you deserve more than you’re going to get. Fight for it, work for it. Please save the universe. God bless you all.”
