Halloween Kills© Universal Pictures

‘Halloween Kills’ star Jamie Lee Curtis reveals she is afraid of horror movies

One thing is acting in them, and another is watching them


Senior Writer
OCTOBER 14, 2021 12:09 PM EDT

For Jamie Lee Curtis, one thing is acting in horror movies, and another is watching them. The iconic actress revealed ahead of the Halloween Kills premiere that, among other stuff, she is afraid of scary things, specifically The Exorcist and night shooting.

The actress known for being Michael Myers’ sister in the Halloween franchise shared everything that terrifies her with EW. “I‘m brave, but I am afraid of scary things,” she told the publication. “When I was 15, my parents (legendary actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis) screened The Exorcist, and my friends teased me the next day because I was so freaked out. I loathe being scared by scary movies. I scare so easily. It’s the reason that I‘m so good at [being in them].”

According to the actress, she ended up making a career in the genre because she needs to earn money if she is scared. “You can pay me to be scared, and you can pay me well!” she said.

© Universal Pictures

The star of The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train went ahead and said even listing to certain movies soundtracks gives her the creeps. “I love trying to untangle the Gordian knot of a good mystery, but scary things scare me,” she assures. “I watched Mare of Easttown, and my head was under the pillow. My husband (actor-director Christopher Guest) will attest that any time the [scary] music starts, I immediately have my hands up in front of my eyes or I’ve covered my ears.”

Although most horror movies are based on fictional characters, Curtis has much more to worry about as an actor who quickly gets scared. “I go to bed at 6:30, so for me, night shooting is physically painful,” Jamie said. “My agents know that if the word night is in the title of the movie, don‘t even bring it to me. Even if they’re remaking The Night of the Iguana, I‘m like, “F--- it. Pass!” she joked.

© Universal Pictures

Jamie Lee Curtis’ character has been battling Michael Myers since 1978

Jamie Lee Curtis’ character has been battling Michael Myers since 1978. After multiple movies in forty years, Michael Myers became one of the most iconic horror figures and Curtis one of the most legendary figures in the genre.

© Universal Pictures

In 2018, David Gordon Green’s Halloween earned over $250 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing chapter in the four-decade franchise and setting a new record for the biggest opening weekend in history for a horror film starring a woman.

In 2021, the Halloween nightmare isn’t over yet, and Laurie Strode (Curtis), lifelong tormentor, is back from the ashes to torment her, her daughter Karen (Judy Greer), and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak).

© Universal Pictures

Halloween Kills opens in theaters and streaming only on Peacock on October 15.

Universal Pictures, Miramax, Blumhouse Productions, and Trancas International Films present Halloween Kills, co-starring Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Thomas Mann (Kong: Skull Island), and Anthony Michael Hall (The Dark Knight).

From the returning filmmaking team responsible for the 2018 global phenomenon, Halloween Kills is written by Scott Teems (SundanceTV’s Rectify) and Danny McBride and David Gordon Green based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill.

© Universal Pictures

The film is directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum, and Bill Block. The executive producers are John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Ryan Freimann.

Halloween Kills opens in theaters and streaming only on Peacock on October 15.