Jamie Lee Curtis Thanks Mother For Sparing Her From The Exorcist

Jamie Lee Curtis turned a family identify after her function in Halloween. Nevertheless, her appearing profession nearly started with a unique traditional horror movie.

In an interview on The Drew Barrymore Present, Curtis stated that when she was round 12 years outdated, she was thought-about for the function of Regan MacNeil, the principle character within the 1973 movie, The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin. The movie’s producer, Ray Stark, knew the Academy Award-winning actor’s mom thought she could be an ideal match for the half. So, he reached out to her about letting her daughter audition for the function, and he or she promptly shut him down.

Regardless of how huge a chance this could have been for Curtis, her mom, who had her finest intentions at coronary heart, determined to not let her youngster tackle such an intense function at solely 12 years outdated. The actor recalled having an enormous character on the time, and he or she believed that may have been why the producer thought-about her. Nevertheless, years later, she was glad her mother didn’t enable her to audition for the horror movie.

He referred to as my mother and stated, ‘Hey, I’m producing the film of the e book The Exorcist. Will you let Jamie audition for it?’ And on the time I used to be in all probability 12 and, like, cute and form of sassy, and I had some character, and I’m positive he noticed me at a celebration and was like, ‘Oh, she’d be humorous.’ And my mom stated, ‘No.’

Curtis revealed that she was fortunate that her mother protected her from youngster stardom. Trying again on it now, she was glad that her mom made positive that she grew up like a traditional child ought to and shielded her from the strain that got here with rising up within the highlight. She additionally acknowledged that Barrymore wasn’t given that very same alternative, because the actor skyrocketed to fame at a really younger age.

My mother actually needed me to have — thank God — a childhood, which I perceive you didn’t get. You didn’t get that possibility.

And, it turned out that Curtis’ mother’s instincts have been proper. The function of Regan in the end went to Linda Blair, who broke her silence concerning the trauma she suffered as a consequence of The Exorcist. She was 14 years outdated on the time and, whereas filming, she was severely injured and handled a number of psychological well being points. Her backbone was fractured, which led to scoliosis and power ache. She additionally had melancholy and drug abuse issues. To high all of it off, she additionally bought stalked and obtained demise threats after the movie turned a hit.

Launch Date

December 26, 1973

Runtime

122 minutes

Director

William Friedkin

Writers

William Peter Blatty

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  Ellen Burstyn

  Chris MacNeil

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  Linda Blair

  Regan MacNeil