Jamie Lee Curtis is set to receive a major honor at Venice Film Festival. She’s been named as this year’s recipient of the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. She’ll accept the award ahead of the premiere of the latest chapter of the “Halloween” franchise, “Halloween Kills.” The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news.
“Jamie Lee Curtis belongs to that rarefied group of Hollywood actors who best reflect the qualities that are the very soul of the global film industry and its legacy,” said festival director Alberto Barbera. “A direct descendant of America’s film aristocracy — she is the daughter of two unforgettable stars, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh — Jamie Lee Curtis is the natural embodiment of a star who knows how to play roles with versatility and amenability, all while infusing them with her peerless charisma and signature personality.”
Curtis reprised her iconic role as Laurie Strode in the 2018 reboot “Halloween.” The Michael Myers pic took in over $250 million worldwide and marked the biggest debut for a film led by a woman over 55.
“Obviously I’m way happy that women over 50 can get a job, and have a job that has depth,” Curtis has said of the film. “The thing that I took away from the movie was depth, emotion, and emotional complexity. When it comes to trauma, how does it manifest? How does it manifest in a family? How does it isolate you? How does it distance you from people? I thought all of that was great. So, to me, it’s not just a grandma looking cute.” She continued, “Laurie Strode was the best part I had ever played because it was a full character, when I was 19 years old and the only thing a director or a costume designer would say to me was, ‘What size jeans do you wear?’ I was a young, nubile girl, so it was just like, ‘Okay, put her in a cute pair of jeans,’ and here was a part that actually had a character. And now, here I am again, 40 fucking years later. It’s whack that I get a role that has this complexity and depth, when I don’t get that. I’m lucky to get a job anywhere, at my age, and here is a job that has real depth.”
Besides “Halloween” and its sequels, Curtis’ other best known roles include “Trading Places,” “True Lies,” and “A Fish Called Wanda.” She recently appeared in box office smash “Knives Out.”
“I am incredibly humbled to be honored in this way by the Venice International Film Festival,” said Curtis. “It seems impossible to me that I’ve been in this industry long enough to be receiving ‘lifetime achievement’ recognition, and to have it happen now, with ‘Halloween Kills,’ is particularly meaningful to me. ‘Halloween’ — and my partnership with Laurie Strode — launched and sustained my career, and to have these films evolve into a new franchise that is beloved by audiences around the world was, and remains, a gift.”
Curtis emphasized that Italian cinema has “always honored and heralded the genre that gave me my career,” saying that she “couldn’t be more proud and happy to accept this award from the Venice International Film Festival on behalf of Laurie and all the courageous heroines of the world who stand tall in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and refuse to yield.”
The 78th edition of Venice Film Festival will take place September 1-11. Jane Campion’s latest film, period drama “The Power of the Dog,” is making its world premiere at the fest.
“Halloween Kills” hits theaters October 15. Check out a trailer for the slasher film below.
