‘Halloween’ Star Jamie Lee Curtis was Denied an Audition for ‘The Exorcist’ by Her Mother, Janet Leigh

by

Jamie Lee Curtis became famous as a horror movie star in 1978 when she played Laurie Strode in John Carpenter’s Halloween at just 19 years old. Recently, on The Drew Barrymore Show, Curtis shared that she’s grateful her mother stopped her from auditioning for a notorious 1974 horror film, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The classic horror film The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, featured performances by Max Von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, and Linda Blair as the troubled and possessed Regan. Although Linda Blair later reprised the role in a sequel and the recent The Exorcist: Believer reboot, Jamie Lee Curtis—who was twelve years old at the time—was also considered for the part.

Jamie Lee Curtis shared that her mother, Janet Leigh – famous for her role in Psycho – turned down a chance for young Jamie to audition for the part of Regan. Curtis, who spoke with Drew Barrymore (another actress who grew up in Hollywood), explained that her mother wanted to shield her from early fame.

He contacted my mom about casting me in the movie adaptation of “The Exorcist.” I was around twelve years old then, and apparently, he’d noticed me at a party and thought I had a funny, spirited personality. He asked if I could audition, but my mom turned him down.

My mom thankfully made sure I had a normal childhood, something I know you, Drew, didn’t have the chance to experience.

Even today, The Exorcist is considered one of the most frightening films ever made, and the intense demands of the role could have been deeply disturbing for a young actress if she hadn’t been well-supported. Although Jamie Lee Curtis moved past that experience, she found herself repeatedly drawn back to the horror genre throughout her career.

Jamie Leigh Curtis Became One of the Original Modern Final Girls of Horror


Compass International Pictures

The concept of the “final girl” in horror movies existed long before Jamie Lee Curtis became famous for her role as Laurie Strode in Halloween. Laurie’s survival and subsequent appearances, even after being written off, helped establish her as a legendary figure – just as iconic as the villain, Michael Myers.

Subscribe to our newsletter for horror icon stories

Curious how casting choices shaped horror history? Subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth looks at genre milestones, iconic final girls, and behind-the-scenes stories that reveal why films like Halloween and The Exorcist endure.

Subscribe to our newsletter for horror icon stories

Curious how casting choices shaped horror history? Subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth looks at genre milestones, iconic final girls, and behind-the-scenes stories that reveal why films like Halloween and The Exorcist endure.

As a total movie buff, I’m happy to sign up for updates and special offers! By doing so, I agree to Valnet’s rules and privacy policy, but don’t worry, I can opt out of those emails whenever I want.

Although Janet Leigh’s Marion Crane wasn’t the very first ‘final girl’ in horror, she essentially defined the archetype for countless characters that followed in films like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and even modern movies like Terrifier. It’s interesting to consider what might have happened if she had played Regan in The Exorcist, but she undeniably left a significant impact on the horror genre – perhaps even a greater one than Linda Blair did after her iconic role. Sometimes, things simply fall into place as they should.

Read More

2025-12-28 17:48