Why Jamie Lee Curtis Says She’s Grateful Her Mom Refused to Let Her Audition for The Exorcist
Jamie Lee Curtis may be Hollywood’s beloved Scream Queen today, but she’s revealing that her horror debut almost happened years earlier — and in a very different movie. During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the Oscar-winning actress shared that she was once considered for a role in the 1973 classic The Exorcist, but her mother, legendary actress Janet Leigh, stepped in and said no.
A Producer Wanted Jamie for The Exorcist — But Janet Leigh Refused
Curtis recalled that when she was around 12 years old, a producer contacted her mother asking if Jamie could audition for the now-iconic role of Regan, the possessed child played by Linda Blair.
“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 said. “I was probably 12 — cute, sassy, had personality — and I’m sure he saw me at a party and thought I’d be funny. And my mother said, ‘No.’”
Leigh — famed for her role in Hitchcock’s Psycho — shut the opportunity down instantly.
Why Curtis Is Thankful for the Decision Today
Curtis told Barrymore she is now grateful her mother shielded her from child stardom and, potentially, emotional trauma from such a dark role.
“My mom really wanted me to have — thank God — a childhood,” she said. “People didn’t step in for you,” she noted to Barrymore, referencing Drew’s own early fame. “My mom said, ‘No, she will have a childhood. She will have protection.’”
Curtis Eventually Found Her Way to Horror Icons
Though she missed out on The Exorcist, Curtis went on to make cinematic history just a few years later. At 19, she landed the role of Laurie Strode in John Carpenter’s 1978 classic Halloween, launching a decades-long career in the horror genre.
She later starred in:
- Halloween II
- Prom Night
- Terror Train
- Road Games
- Multiple Halloween sequels and reboots
Her work cemented her as one of the most iconic figures in horror history.
A Sliding-Doors Moment in Horror History
While Linda Blair’s chilling performance in The Exorcist remains unforgettable, it’s fascinating to imagine how differently horror history may have unfolded had Curtis taken on the role. Still, Curtis says the “no” from her mother was one of the best things that ever happened to her. For more entertainment updates, celebrity insights, and Hollywood deep-dives, stay tuned to InvestRecords.com.
