Jamie Lee Curtis, the iconic actress whose career spans decades, has been a household name in both the horror genre and mainstream cinema. Yet, her latest phase in Hollywood is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Following her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once and an Emmy for her role in The Bear, Curtis is experiencing a moment of unprecedented recognition — but it’s not just about the awards. For Curtis, it’s about freedom.

“I’m having a moment. I’m having freedom,” she said in a candid conversation with Stephen Colbert. It’s a powerful statement, one that goes beyond her recent accolades. For someone who’s been in the business since childhood, this “moment” of freedom is something deeply personal — and something that might be just as remarkable as the awards she’s won. But what exactly does Jamie Lee Curtis mean when she says she’s having “freedom”? And how did she arrive at this liberating place in her life?

A Life of Transformation

For many in Hollywood, success often comes with a price. The entertainment industry can be a place of immense pressure, competition, and expectation. Curtis, who has had a career spanning more than four decades, has experienced it all — from her early breakthrough roles in the Halloween series to becoming a respected actress in both television and film. Yet, despite her achievements, it’s only in recent years that Curtis has truly come into her own.

One of the key moments of transformation for her was a shift in perspective about her own identity. “I’ve always just been an actor, I love my job,” Curtis said. “But only recently have I understood that I’m an artist.” She goes on to describe this realization as a spiritual awakening, one that has allowed her to fully embrace her creative freedom. Curtis now refers to herself not just as an actor, but as an artist, something she had never considered until five or six years ago.

The feeling of being “in a creative meadow” — a metaphor she used to describe her current state of mind — is more than just a poetic turn of phrase. It’s a reflection of the freedom she feels to explore and express herself fully through her work. For Curtis, it’s not just about the accolades or even the fame; it’s about having the ability to think for herself and express her soul through the work she creates.

Sobriety and the Road to Freedom

The most significant source of freedom for Jamie Lee Curtis comes from a deeply personal achievement — her sobriety. Curtis openly shared that she has been sober for 26 years, a decision that she credits with granting her a newfound sense of liberation. “The prison of addiction of any kind is awful,” she said. “And I am very free because I have conquered something that was… an issue in my life.”

Sobriety has given Curtis the freedom to live without the chains of substance abuse, something she says has been vital to her sense of self. For many, addiction is an insurmountable struggle, but Curtis’s candid acknowledgment of her battle and victory serves as an inspiration. Her story is not just one of overcoming personal demons but also of embracing life in its purest form.

This journey has also allowed Curtis to understand her own creativity in a way she never could before. Sobriety, for her, is not just about abstaining from substances but about clearing the path to express her true self. Her newfound artistic expression is something that has been deeply nurtured by her experiences and challenges, creating a well-rounded sense of personal freedom that now defines her.

The True Meaning of Freedom in Hollywood

For many, the idea of freedom in Hollywood is tied to career opportunities, public image, and personal choices. But for Curtis, freedom goes beyond this superficial understanding. She speaks passionately about the importance of being able to think for oneself and not being constrained by outside expectations. “Freedom in anything — spirituality, marriage, art, politics — is to have a free mind,” she explained. “To have an expression of your soul through the work you do, whatever that is.”

This definition of freedom transcends the traditional notion of fame or success. Curtis is not simply saying she is free because she can take on the roles she chooses or make decisions based on public approval. Rather, she is free because she is able to express herself authentically, without the pressure of conforming to industry norms or personal expectations. This kind of freedom is rare in an industry that often demands conformity from its stars.

From Child Performer to Artistic Visionary

Jamie Lee Curtis’s transformation into an “artist” didn’t happen overnight. She remembers her early days in the entertainment industry, a time when she wasn’t sure of her place but was always open to new opportunities. One of the pivotal moments she recalls is from when she was just eight years old. As a child, she was chosen to recite the Christmas pageant at school, where she recited Luke 2:8-14, a passage from the Bible. This early performance is something she remembers vividly, and it marked the beginning of her relationship with the performing arts.

“I wasn’t an actor, I was eight,” Curtis said, reflecting on her first taste of performance. This early experience of public speaking and performing set the stage for her future career, but it wasn’t until much later that she understood the true depth of her artistic potential. Looking back, Curtis believes that this early exposure to performance helped shape her into the artist she is today.

What’s Next for Jamie Lee Curtis?

With her current momentum, it seems that Jamie Lee Curtis is on a path to greater creative freedom and exploration. Her newfound sense of self, coupled with her sobriety and success, has led to a career resurgence that shows no signs of slowing down. The question now is: What’s next for her? Will she continue to take on more complex, artistic roles, or will she explore new avenues of creative expression?

Curtis herself seems open to whatever the future holds. “I feel like I’m in this meadow,” she says, surrounded by opportunity and beauty. For someone who has already accomplished so much, it’s inspiring to see that she feels like she is just beginning. This sense of artistic freedom is not something many people experience, especially in a high-pressure industry like Hollywood, and it’s a refreshing reminder that even after decades of success, there’s always room for personal growth and reinvention.

A Legacy of Freedom and Creativity

In a world where fame often brings constraints, Jamie Lee Curtis’s story is one of empowerment. From overcoming personal struggles to embracing her full artistic potential, Curtis has carved out a place for herself in Hollywood that is not just about acting but about living freely and authentically. For her, freedom isn’t just the ability to choose roles — it’s about choosing to live life on her terms, without the weight of past expectations holding her back.

As Jamie Lee Curtis continues to thrive, her message is clear: freedom, in its truest form, comes from within. It’s about expressing yourself authentically, overcoming obstacles, and embracing the opportunities that life throws your way. And for Curtis, this is just the beginning of what promises to be an even more exciting chapter in her storied career.