Jamie Lee Curtis reflected on nearly 50 years of acting and said she thought she’d end up as a police officer
NEED TO KNOW
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The actress shared a photo of herself aged 19 as an unnamed waitress in a Columbo episode
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Curtis won an Oscar in 2023 for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Jamie Lee Curtisis celebrating nearly 50 years on the big screen!
But acting was never her intended route, as she admitted that she thought she would end up “as a cop," she noted in a Monday, March 31,Instagram postmarking the milestone.
TheFreaky Fridaystar, 67, shared a picture of herself aged around 19 in one of her earliest TV parts — a waitress on aColumboepisode in 1977.
A youthful Curtis can be seen with brunette hair tied back, wearing a blue uniform for the role.
A second image underneath shows a recent selfie of the actress rocking an ashy blond bob, wearing glasses, chunky gold jewelry and a smart black jacket.
“Next year, I will [have] been an actress for 50 years. I was never going to be an actor. I thought I'd be a cop,” she wrote.
“I was telling the story on set of my early jobs as an unnamed waitress on aColumboepisode when I was a contract player at Universal Pictures and now I am a producer, HBIC [head bitch in charge], a costar with Nicole Kidman and collaborator on #scarpetta @primevideo @nowscreamingpv @blumhouse @comet.pictures @blossomfilms.”
Curtis added, “There was no future tripping. It was just each job, one job at a time, grateful for any opportunity and patience. Lots of f---ing patience.”
Since 1977, she has held roles in iconic movies, such asTrue Lies, Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, Freaky FridayandKnives Out, to name a few.
Curtis — who is thedaughter of award-winning actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis— won the Oscar in 2023 for Best Supporting Actress in the 2022 film,Everything Everywhere All At Once,where she played IRS auditor, Deirdre Beaubeirdre.
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Her six million followers rushed to the comments to show their support, with one writing: “Could never imagine a screen without THEE Jamie Lee Curtis. [You’re] forever an icon and idol. Grateful for your existence! 🩵😍🫶🏼.”
Another said: “Jamie you are a true testament to [the] fact that hard work and resilience always wins. You are an inspiration on many levels. Love you so much xoxo.”
A third commented: “So glad you decided to pursue acting. 🥰,” while another added: “Keep Inspiring J ❤️.”
This latest reflection comes as Curtis got emotional during an appearance onToday with Jenna & Sheinelleon March 2, when thetopic of nurturing child actors came up.
Co-hostSheinelle Jonesspoke about the comments that herFreaky FridaycostarLindsay Lohanmade, praising Curtis for how she treated her as a kid in the industry.
“You’re about to make me cry, which you guys do often in this building. You make me cry because what you’re touching on is very important,” Curtis said. “Show business is nothing but transaction.”
She added that she tries to be “safe” and a “home base” for child actors she works with, letting them know, “I do not want anything from you.”
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Lohan opened up to PEOPLEin July 2025 about her relationship with Curtis, and said: “Jamie was with me at a time in my life when I was going through a lot publicly.”
The actress, who was just 15 when filming began, added of Curtis: “She was privately really there for me.”
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