Jamie Lee Curtis acknowledges her “nepo baby” label but emphasizes her dedication to her craft.
Hollywood veteran Jamie Lee Curtis is well aware of the nepotism discussion surrounding her career.
As the daughter of movie stars Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, Curtis understands the advantages her lineage has afforded her. However, she believes that when it comes to the craft of acting, those advantages only go so far.
Curtis, now 65, has long been part of the conversation on nepotism in Hollywood. Recently, during a momentous occasion where she received an honorary degree from the American Film Institute, she reflected on her career and the role that nepotism has played in it.
The event took place at Hollywood’s iconic TCL Chinese Theatre on August 10, where Curtis spoke candidly about her family background and the current debate about “nepo babies.”
Curtis acknowledged that her famous parents gave her a significant leg up in her acting career, but she was quick to point out that familial connections don’t necessarily guarantee success in the entertainment industry.
“Nepo babies is an easy way for people to tell you [that] you don’t deserve your success,” she told PEOPLE at the commencement ceremony. “And I have been aware of that my whole life.”
She explained that being born into a family of Hollywood stars has always influenced how others perceive her success. “I am not under any delusion that hasn’t had an effect and an impact,” Curtis admitted.
Yet, despite the initial advantages, she emphasized that talent and dedication are what truly count once the cameras start rolling. “But at the end of the day, none of that helps you when they say rolling and action,” Curtis said. “It’s at that moment that the art takes over.”
Curtis, who first rose to fame with her breakout role in the 1978 horror classic Halloween, reflected on her journey as an actress. She described her growth in the industry, saying that she now identifies more as an artist than she did when she first started. “And I didn’t know I was an artist originally, but I know I’m a creative person. I’m an ideas girl, and I’ve been an ideas girl from the beginning,” she shared.
In her decades-long career, Curtis has taken on a variety of roles beyond acting, including writing children’s books, screenwriting, directing, and producing. “I’m a marketing whiz. … I’ve written books for children, I’ve written screenplays, I have directed. I am producing,” she said, listing some of her many accomplishments. For Curtis, these experiences have solidified her identity as an artist, a title she now wears proudly. “I am now an artist with a capital ‘A’ that I didn’t know I was,” she said.
While Curtis recognizes the impact of her family’s legacy on her career, she emphasized that her personal achievements and creativity have become more significant to her over time. “So my legacy is less acute now because my art has surpassed that,” she explained.
However, she acknowledged that her family history remains a part of who she is. “And yet I’m in a place of great historical significance and my daughter is here with me. The legacy is that I’m a mother and a friend and a collaborator.”
Curtis has previously spoken about nepotism and the “nepo baby” label. In late 2022, after New York magazine published a cover story on the topic, Curtis addressed the issue on Instagram, calling herself an “OG Nepo Baby.” She shared a throwback photo of her parents and wrote, “I have been a professional actress since I was 19 years old so that makes me an OG Nepo Baby.”
She further reflected on her early career and the uncertainty she felt about why she was hired for her first major role. “I’ve never understood, nor will I, what qualities got me hired that day,” she wrote, referencing her breakout role in Halloween.
Curtis also noted that despite her long career, she’s constantly reminded of her famous parents. “There’s not a day in my professional life that goes by without my being reminded that I am the daughter of movie stars.”
Curtis also pushed back against the notion that “nepo babies” lack talent, a criticism often leveled against those who come from well-known families. “The current conversation about nepo babies is just designed to try to diminish and denigrate and hurt,” she said in her Instagram post.
She made it clear that she’s fully aware of the advantages her family name has provided, but she also emphasized her dedication to her craft. “For the record I have navigated 44 years with the advantages my associated and reflected fame brought me, I don’t pretend there aren’t any,” she wrote.
Curtis concluded by defending the work and value of those labeled as “nepo babies,” asserting that many, like herself, are deeply committed to their craft. “There are many of us. Dedicated to our craft. Proud of our lineage,” she stated. “Strong in our belief in our right to exist.”
As Curtis continues to evolve as an artist, she remains mindful of her origins while focusing on the personal accomplishments that define her legacy today.
