Jamie Lee Curtis on painful past, surgery and addiction

Hollywood icon Jamie Lee Curtis recently shed light on a painful chapter from her past—one that began with a harsh comment about her appearance and spiraled into years of personal struggle. Speaking candidly during her appearance on 60 Minutes, the 66-year-old actress revealed that she underwent

cosmetic surgery

at just 25 after a cinematographer refused to shoot her due to her eye bags.“He told the crew he wouldn’t film me that day because my eyes looked puffy,” Curtis recalled, referencing her time on the 1985 film 'Perfect,' where she starred alongside John Travolta. “I was just 25. The embarrassment I felt in that moment was overwhelming. Right after we wrapped, I went and had surgery.”

The procedure that led to deeper pain

What began as a quick fix for physical insecurity soon turned into something much darker. Curtis admitted the results of the procedure didn’t bring her the comfort she was seeking. Instead, she found herself leaning on prescribed painkillers in the aftermath of the surgery—a crutch that led to a dependency.

Curtis described the early days of her addiction as a “quiet and private” battle. “They gave me opioids for the pain, and I fell into it. It felt like a warm bath—comforting, numbing. I drank a little kept to myself, and before I realized it, I was hooked,” she said.

From addiction to advocacy

Jamie Lee Curtis’s story, however, didn’t end in that dark place. After nearly a decade of struggling with

opioid addiction

, she found the strength to seek help in 1999. Since then, she has become a fierce advocate for sobriety,

body positivity

, and authenticity.Earlier this year, Curtis celebrated 26 years of sobriety, marking the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post that said "26 years ago today, I walked into my first recovery meeting. Since then, my life has completely changed.” She credited her recovery journey with giving her deep friendships and a renewed purpose in life.

Redefining beauty on her own terms

Now, Curtis uses her platform to challenge Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards and inspire others to embrace themselves as they are. Her openness about her struggles, both physical and emotional, has positioned her as a powerful voice for change in an industry long criticized for its pressure on appearances.Her journey from shame and addiction to acceptance and healing is a powerful reminder that what’s seen on screen rarely tells the full story. Through honesty and vulnerability, Jamie Lee Curtis continues to redefine what it means to be truly beautiful.