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In a candid interview on 60 Minutes, Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis revealed a deeply personal story about the turning point in her life—an offhand remark that led to decades of regret and struggle. At just 25, Curtis found herself the subject of harsh criticism during the filming of the 1985 film Perfect, which co-starred John Travolta and was shot by famed cinematographer Gordon Willis.
"He said, 'Yeah, I'm not shooting her today. Her eyes are baggy,'" Curtis recalled. The comment, made in front of the crew, left her humiliated. "It was very embarrassing," she told journalist Sharyn Alfonsi. As soon as the film wrapped, Curtis underwent cosmetic surgery to reduce the puffiness under her eyes.
The operation did not bring the relief she hoped for. "I regretted it immediately," she admitted. It also marked the beginning of her dependence on Vicodin, a powerful opioid prescribed during recovery. The actress described her addiction as silent but consuming. "I never did it when I worked. But I chased that warm-bath feeling for a long time," she told The New Yorker in 2019.
By the late 1990s, Curtis had become what she called a "wildly controlled addict." She never took drugs before 5 p.m., kept her struggles hidden, and functioned normally in public. But internally, the damage had taken root. She has since spoken about how the pressures of Hollywood—especially around appearance—can have lifelong consequences.
Today, Curtis is 26 years sober and outspoken about the dangers of cosmetic procedures and the societal obsession with physical perfection. "Once you mess with your face, you can't get it back," she said in a 2021 interview with Fast Company. She now believes plastic surgery, social media filters, and appearance-altering tools are "wiping out generations of beauty."
Reflecting on her early experiences, Curtis emphasized the importance of self-acceptance. "I naturally had puffy eyes. If you look at pictures of me as a child, that's just how I looked," she explained in Variety's 2019 Recovery Issue. "I was mortified, but I didn't need fixing. I needed understanding."
Now 66, Curtis has become an advocate for authenticity, aging gracefully, and living truthfully. "I say what I mean. I mean what I say," she shared recently. Her journey is not just about recovery—it's a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of words, and the strength it takes to reclaim one's narrative.
