Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that she initially did not comprehend the script of Everything Everywhere All At Once, the film that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2023. The veteran actress struggled to grasp the complex narrative during her first reading, highlighting the challenges posed by the movie’s intricate storyline.
Early Confusion Over the Complex Narrative
Everything Everywhere All At Once presents a nonlinear and multifaceted plot, featuring ideas such as parallel universes and alternate realities, which made it difficult to follow. Despite her extensive career spanning nearly six decades, Jamie Lee Curtis found the script confusing at first. In a recent CBS News 60 Minutes interview, the 67-year-old admitted candidly that she did not understand the story upon her initial reading.
“Not one second of it. Did I understand that script? No.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress
Understanding the Character of Deirdre Beaubeirdre
Curtis portrayed IRS agent Deirdre Beaubeirdre in the film, a character she described as emotionally distant and controlling due to a lack of love in her life. She spoke openly about Dierdre’s motivations, acknowledging the character’s complexity despite her initial difficulty with the screenplay.
“We all know Dierdre. She’s a woman who’s not loved. She’s a woman who uses her power in her job to control people because she has no love in her life,”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress
Reflecting on Her Family Legacy and Career Freedom
During the interview, Curtis also discussed her famous parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, both Oscar-nominated actors who never won the award. She reflected on surpassing them emotionally, particularly through her journey with sobriety and personal freedom in her career. Curtis remarked on the limitations her mother faced in Hollywood, contrasting that with her own ability to portray unfiltered roles.
“I think about surpassing my parents, which I have, emotionally. I’ve surpassed my parents with sobriety,”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress
“My mother was restricted by what the industry wanted from her, expected from her, and would allow from her. My mother would have hated [2024 film] The Last Showgirl because I showed what I really looked like. I have — I don’t want to say surpassed them, but I have freedom.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress
Ongoing Career and Public Appearances
Jamie Lee Curtis remains active in the entertainment industry, most recently appearing on Ella McCay in 2025. Her candid reflections on her Oscar-winning role and personal growth underline her continued relevance and evolving presence in Hollywood.
