Jamie Lee Curtis Says Growing Up With Famous Parents Was “Comfortable, Not Fancy”

In a recent Variety interview, Jamie Lee Curtis said she had a simple childhood despite being the daughter of Hollywood stars.

She described her early years in Los Angeles as “comfortable, not fancy.” Her parents were legendary actors: Tony Curtis, known for hits like Some Like It Hot and Spartacus, and Janet Leigh, famous for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

Curtis grew up mostly with her mother and a stepfather, who was in the Marines, after her father left the family for a 17-year-old. “Show business wasn’t evident to me as a child. I mean, there are a couple pictures of me on sets with my sister, but I don’t have a memory of any of it — any of it, just none of it,” she said.

As a teenager, Curtis didn’t think she had special talents. “I was kind of a weirdo. I was this girl at 16, full of energy and personality. But I had no intelligence. You know, I wasn’t an athlete, I wasn’t in the plays. I was a D+ student — C- if you graded on a curve. I was a cheerleader. And I became an actor by accident.”

She credits strong women in her life, especially her mother, for helping her grow. Janet Leigh was not only a famous actress but also active in charity work. She joined Share, a group started by Hollywood wives in the 1950s to support children’s causes. Curtis watched her mother perform at annual events like the Boomtown Party, which left a lasting impression on her. “It stuck with me, seeing them all working to help kids less fortunate than myself,” Curtis said.

Her mother was also close with Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics. Curtis joined in on the work when she was a teenager.

At 15, she suggested setting up a booth with Polaroid cameras at the events to take pictures of athletes with celebrities. Shriver liked the idea, and Curtis ran the booth for several years. By the age of 19, Shriver invited her to appear in the photos herself, saying, “We’d like you to be in the pictures this year, because you were on TV.”

Curtis’ career in acting began unexpectedly. During a Christmas break from college, she visited a friend in Beverly Hills. A man named Chuck Binder, who had once been a tennis instructor, was now managing actors.

He encouraged her to audition for a role in Nancy Drew at Universal. “Show business, right? You’re a tennis teacher; now you’re managing actors,” Curtis said. She agreed, and that led to her entry into Hollywood.

Even with famous parents, Curtis’ childhood shows that life in a Hollywood family can still feel ordinary. Her story is shaped by supportive adults, personal curiosity, and chance opportunities that helped her grow into the successful actress she is today.

It’s interesting to see that even someone raised in Hollywood royalty can have a grounded and “normal” upbringing. It shows that fame doesn’t automatically define a childhood. What do you think about children growing up with famous parents? Share your thoughts in the comments.