On January 10, 2026, Chad Michael Murray explained that he first realized his attraction to women after seeing Jamie Lee Curtis in the film Trading Places. Sharing his experience on the Like a Farmer podcast, Murray openly discussed the significant impact of Jamie Lee Curtis’s performance in the classic 1983 movie, highlighting her role as Ophelia.
Chad Michael Murray’s Early Admiration for Jamie Lee Curtis
Chad Michael Murray, now 44, spoke about watching Jamie Lee Curtis, then 21, portray Ophelia, a resourceful and pivotal character, in Trading Places. According to Murray, seeing Curtis in this particular role became a defining moment in his personal development and solidified his awareness of his attraction to women, directly linking this realization to Jamie Lee Curtis’s much-discussed appearance in the film, which remains one of her most memorable roles.
In a conversation with podcast host Pat Spinosa, Murray recounted watching the movie with his father and feeling a clear response to Curtis’s on-screen presence. He humorously recalled his reaction and openly admitted that Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places was formative for him, anchoring the relevance of the Jamie Lee Curtis Trading Places legacy in his own life.
First Encounter and Experiencing Hollywood Icons
Murray had the chance to work with Jamie Lee Curtis years later in Disney’s 2003 comedy Freaky Friday, which premiered in London. At the age of 19, Chad played Jake Austin, while Jamie Lee Curtis took on the central role of Tess Coleman alongside Lindsay Lohan, who portrayed Anna Coleman. This experience left a strong impression on Murray, as he was able to share the screen with someone he deeply admired since his teenage years.
She’s awesome. She was the first person that I ever got to have the opportunity to work with where I was like, ‘OK, this is like an icon.’
—Chad Michael Murray, Actor
Calling Jamie Lee Curtis “Hollywood royalty,” Chad referenced her parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, both celebrated actors in their own right. He praised Jamie Lee Curtis for her extensive and varied career, mentioning her performances not only in Trading Places but also in classic films like Halloween and True Lies. He acknowledged that Curtis was born and raised in the industry, maintaining a remarkable standard and continuing her family legacy across decades.
[Jamie Lee] was born in it, raised in it, continued to do it. Lived up to the expectations and goes, and has Halloween and True Lies, and Trading Places, and all these unbelievable films.
—Chad Michael Murray, Actor
Return to Familiar Roles in Freakier Friday
Decades after their initial collaboration, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chad Michael Murray, and Lindsay Lohan reunited for the 2025 sequel, Freakier Friday. They reprised their original Disney roles—Tess, Jake, and Anna Coleman—in a fresh storyline, where body-swapping chaos extends even further into the Coleman family. Murray commented positively on Curtis, remarking on her timeless appeal and the dynamic between their characters. The London premiere of this sequel echoed the nostalgia and camaraderie originally shared among the cast.
Jamie Lee Curtis’s Reflection on Her Iconic Trading Places Scene
Trading Places, directed by John Landis, featured Jamie Lee Curtis alongside Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. The film is known for its unique take on role-reversal, centering on stockbroker Louis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine, with Curtis’s Ophelia playing a critical supporting part. In March 2022, Curtis addressed her experience filming a notable topless scene in Trading Places, candidly detailing her embarrassment at the time, but also her professionalism in fulfilling the role’s requirements.
Did I like doing it? No. Did I feel embarrassed that I was doing it? Yes. Did I look OK? Yeah. Did I know what I was doing? Yeah. Did I like it? No. Was I doing it because it was the job? Yes.
—Jamie Lee Curtis, Actor
Now married to Christopher Guest since 1984 and a mother to adopted daughters Annie and Ruby, Curtis reflected on how her perspective has changed over time, asserting she would not make the same choices today due to her family commitments and personal evolution.
I also am married for 37 years, I wasn’t married then. I’m a mother of children. Absolutely not.
—Jamie Lee Curtis, Actor
Legacy of Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places
Jamie Lee Curtis’s role in Trading Places remains a standout in cinematic history, influencing generations, including fellow actors like Chad Michael Murray. With prominent co-stars like Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, the film offered her a platform that resonated beyond comedy, impacting Murray’s own Hollywood aspirations. Her journey from the daughter of icons Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, through a celebrated career spanning Halloween and True Lies, to her roles as a wife and mother, demonstrates a multifaceted legacy that continues to inspire.
As Murray and Curtis return to their familiar roles in Freakier Friday, the ongoing relevance and impact of Jamie Lee Curtis in both classic and contemporary cinema is affirmed, ensuring that the influence of Jamie Lee Curtis Trading Places endures for new audiences.
