Jamie Lee Curtis Says ‘Thank God’ Mom Shut Down ‘Exorcist’ Audition

Jamie Lee Curtis is grateful her film star mother made her wait to start appearing in horror films.

During a current look on “The Drew Barrymore Show” (by way of People), Curtis said that a producer needed her to audition for “The Exorcist.” However, her mom, Janet Leigh, shut down the alternative, defending her then 12-year-old daughter from early fame and any potential trauma that got here with starring in considered one of the scariest films ever made.

“He called my mom and said, ‘Hey, I’m producing the movie of the book “The Exorcist.” Will you let Jamie audition for it?’” Curtis recalled. “And at the time I was probably 12 and, like, cute and kind of sassy and I had some personality and I’m sure he saw me at a party and was like, ‘Oh, she’d be funny.’ And my mother said, ‘No.’”

She then told host Barrymore, “My mom really wanted me to have, thank God, a childhood, which I understand you didn’t get. You didn’t get that option.” Barrymore’s first function was in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” She was just seven years outdated playing Elliot’s youthful sister.

Linda Blair would in the end be solid as the possessed youngster, Regan. She was nominated at the 1974 Acadmey Awards for best supporting actor for the function.

Curtis would finally develop into synonymous with the horror style, first breaking out in the 1978 basic “Halloween” at age 19. In the coming years, Curtis starred in movies like “The Fog,” “Prom Night,” and “Terror Train.” She most not too long ago reprised her 1978 “Halloween” function, Laurie, for 2022’s “Halloween Ends.”