At just 25 years old, Jamie Lee Curtis says a single cruel comment during the filming of a 1985 movie pushed her toward a decision she has regretted ever since.
After facing criticism about her appearance on set, Curtis chose to undergo plastic surgery, which she says immediately led to a long-term opioid addiction that she has now overcome after 22 years of sobriety, Fox News reported.
While filming the romantic drama Perfect in 1985, Curtis remembers a cinematographer refusing to shoot her scenes. The reason, he reportedly said, was her "baggy" eyes. The comment, made in front of the crew when she was just 25, left a lasting impact.
Reflecting on the moment in a recent interview, Curtis described the situation as deeply embarrassing and hurtful. “That’s just not what you want to do when you’re 25 or 26,” she said. As soon as filming wrapped, she decided to take action in an effort to alter her appearance.
She underwent a cosmetic procedure—her first plastic surgery. It was a decision she now says she instantly wished she hadn’t made. According to Curtis, it was a turning point that shifted the trajectory of her health and well-being.
The recovery process from the surgery led Curtis to begin using Vicodin, a prescription painkiller. She stated that she quickly developed a dependency on it, describing its effect as feeling like a “warm bath.” Over time, what began as a temporary solution turned into quiet reliance.
This opioid dependency marked the beginning of a long battle with substance use. Curtis has said that although she drank alcohol and used drugs, she maintained a controlled schedule, never using substances during work hours or earlier in the day. “I never did it when I worked,” she said. “I never took painkillers at 10 in the morning.”
Her dependence did not become public knowledge for many years. Curtis said she was private about her habits, which she categorized as “quiet,” but the situation gradually intensified. It wasn’t until much later that she decided to seek help.
In 1999, a personal essay in Esquire magazine titled "Vicodin, My Vicodin" caught Curtis’s attention. The piece, written by Tom Chiarella, spurred her to attend her first recovery meeting. She has said that she was terrified to go, fearing she could be recognized and her trust betrayed.
Despite her concerns, Curtis found support in the recovery community. She has since openly discussed her journey and reflected on the strength it took to take that first step toward sobriety. Her fear of exposure, she later admitted, turned out to be unfounded.
That step marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to recovery. In the decades since, Curtis has managed to maintain her sobriety, using her experience to become an advocate for others struggling with addiction.
In a 2019 interview with Variety, Curtis described herself as a “controlled drug addict and alcoholic.” She shared more insights during a 2021 interview with Fast Company, calling her experience with cosmetic procedures a direct link to her opioid dependence.
She also used social media to mark her 22 years of sobriety in 2021, providing an honest look into her struggles and growth. She credits her recovery journey with allowing her to find clarity and purpose, helping others through transparency.
In addition to her recovery, Curtis has also become vocal about the harm of cosmetic surgery trends. She warned against the industry’s effects, saying the widespread use of procedures was “wiping out generations of beauty.”
Curtis hopes her experience serves as a lesson to others, particularly young women. Addressing the pressures of appearance, she said she now urges women to see themselves as already “gorgeous” and “perfect” as they are.
Looking back, she regards her initial surgery as a mistake. "I regretted it immediately and have kind of sort of regretted it since," she said, adding that the ordeal shaped her views on self-acceptance and substance use recovery.
Now an Academy Award-winning actress and advocate, Curtis uses her platform to encourage openness about body image and addiction. Her story is widely viewed as one of resilience and redemption.
