Jamie Lee Curtis says turning 60 changed the way she thinks about time, relationships and her place in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with AARP’s Movies for Grownups, the 67-year-old actress reflected on aging in Hollywood and the perspective she gained after entering her sixties.
Curtis said reaching that milestone forced her to confront the reality that time is limited and that she no longer wants to spend it on relationships or situations that do not add value to her life.
“Turning 60 was a wake-up call,” Curtis said. “I realized my mortality was closer than I’d like to admit.”
That realization, she explained, reshaped how she approaches both her personal and professional life.
“I understood that I can’t waste time on people or relationships that don’t enrich my life,” she said.
Curtis also spoke about the challenges of aging in the entertainment industry, describing Hollywood as “ageist, misogynistic and limiting.” She said those attitudes toward aging were something she had witnessed long before experiencing them herself.
The actress, whose parents were film stars Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, said seeing how the industry treated older actors influenced how she views her own career.
“I watched it happen to my parents,” she said, referring to the way opportunities can narrow with age in Hollywood.
Curtis added that she has occasionally considered stepping away from acting over the years. “I’ve thought about retirement since I was 30,” she said. “I’ve often wondered if I should leave while I still can.”
Despite those thoughts, Curtis continues to work steadily and recently appeared in the acclaimed television series The Bear.
She said aging has also brought a sense of freedom, particularly when it comes to how she views her appearance.
“For me, freedom is accepting my skin, wrinkles and all,” Curtis said. “I see myself in the mirror every day and I’ve made peace with that.”
The actress said that embracing authenticity has also strengthened her work as a performer.
“Everything I do comes from emotion,” she said. “And for me, that’s where real freedom is.”
