Jamie Lee Curtis Reflects on Her Legacy While Receiving Honorary Degree from AFI: ‘You're Going to Get Me Crying’

Mar. 15, 2025

Jamie Lee Curtis with her honorary degree from the American Film Institute on Aug. 10, 2024.Photo:Araya Doheny/Getty

Araya Doheny/Getty

Jamie Lee Curtisjust received an honorary degree from the American Film Institute — a cherry on top of her already illustrious career.

The drama school awarded Curtis, 65, with the honor at its commencement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 10, for her contributions to film.

“A moment like this demands the respect for the institution and the longevity of my life as an artist — and that I claim,” theFreaky Fridaystar tells PEOPLE at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre in California.

“You’re going to get me crying,” she adds. “But that I claim the word ‘artist’ at my age now. I didn’t before.”

Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter at the AFI Commencement on Aug. 10, 2024.Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

Discussing the honorary degrees significance given her family tree — includingmovie star parents Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis— she tells PEOPLE, “Nepo babies is an easy way for people to tell you you don’t deserve your success. And I have been aware of that my whole life.”

“I have not shied away from it,” she adds. “I am not under any delusion that hasn’t had an effect and an impact. But at the end of the day, none of that helps you when they say rolling and action. It’s at that moment that the art takes over.”

“And I didn’t know I was an artist originally, but I know I’m a creative person,” she says. “I’m an ideas girl, and I’ve been an ideas girl from the beginning. I’m a marketing whiz. I’m a publicist. … I’ve written books for children, I’ve written screenplays, I have directed. I am producing.”

Now, themom of twosays, “My legacy is less acute” because “my art has surpassed that.”

“I’m in a place of great historical significance and my daughter is here with me,” she continues. “The legacy is that I’m a mother and a friend and a collaborator. And so I think all of that, of course, has an impact, but it is less acute.”

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And, Curtis explains her “legacy” is still a work in progress — and will be until she cannot work any longer.

“And this is an example of an establishment of the solidity of my being and my mind,“The Bearstar adds. “And now I just have to hustle and I am hustling right now.”

Jamie Lee Curtis accepts her honorary degree from the American Film Institute.Michael Kovac/Getty

In its own words, the AFI Conservatory conferred Curtis a doctorate of fine arts degree honoris causa for “contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image,” per a press release.

“Jamie Lee Curtis is a supernova born from the union of two stars — an icon whose fearless approach to her craft and dauntless dedication to driving culture forward define excellence in our modern day,” said AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale.

Curtiswon the Academy Awardfor Best Supporting Actress in 2023 for her role inEverything Everywhere All at Onceand will reprise her role as Tess Coleman in theupcoming sequel to 2003’sFreaky Fridayalongside Lindsay Lohan’s Anna Coleman.

The film, which releases in theaters next year, will follow Curtis and Lohan’s mother-daughter duo as they switch bodies with two teenage girls. She also stars asDr. Patricia Tannisin the recently releasedBorderlandsfilm, based on the popular video game series.

source: people.com