“Jamie Lee Curtis Reflects on Freedom, Sobriety, and Her Creative Reawakening on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”

In a candid and heartfelt conversation on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jamie Lee Curtis opened up about the transformative phase she’s currently in, from winning an Oscar to exploring new artistic territories and embracing a freedom she’s only recently come to fully understand.

The Creative Reawakening

The 64-year-old star, who won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once and an Emmy for her role in The Bear, was all smiles as she joined Colbert for the evening. Yet beneath the laughter, she shared a more profound reflection about her creative evolution. Curtis revealed she had only recently begun to see herself as an artist, something she had never fully embraced before.

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“It’s incredible. Ultimately, freedom in anything—spirituality, marriage, art, politics—to have a free mind. To be able to think for yourself. To have an expression of your soul through the work you do, whatever the work you do. Even if it is a technical job, you still express your soul. Musicians, my goodness. Every day your soul coming through your instrument. I feel like this instrument is wide open, free, and having just opportunity after opportunity that I just never thought I’d get.”

Stephen Colbert:
“That’s incredible. Does that feel freer?”

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“It’s incredible. I really didn’t know what freedom was until I got sober 26 years ago. That’s a big freedom because addiction is awful. And I am very free because I’ve conquered something that was a real issue in my life. But it’s all good now. It’s hard to explain how it happens, but I feel I am in a creative meadow—surrounded by opportunity and beauty.”

A Shift in Perspective: Embracing Artistry

Stephen Colbert, ever the curious host, couldn’t help but ask Jamie what brought about this newfound understanding of herself as an artist.

Stephen Colbert:
“How did you get to that place? That’s a great feeling obviously. That’s a rare feeling for a lot of people. What opened the door for you?”

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“I really don’t know. If I track back to my early performances, I started when I was young. You know what, I remember the first time I realized I had a love for performance. When I was eight years old, I was chosen to recite a passage from Luke 2:8-14 at my school’s Christmas pageant.”

Stephen Colbert:
“Hit me.”

Jamie Lee Curtis:
(smiling, gathering herself)
“I was eight, I wasn’t an actor. I stood up and recited it: ‘And in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night… and the angel of the Lord came upon them…’ How did I know that?”

Stephen Colbert:
(astonished)
“How do you still know that?”

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“It’s from when I was eight. I can still recall it clearly.”

Stephen Colbert:
“That’s the same great line from A Charlie Brown Christmas!”

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“Did you ever do It’s a Good Life, Charlie Brown? A revival!”

The two shared a brief moment of laughter, but Jamie’s deep reflection continued, and Colbert listened attentively.

Sobriety and Self-Discovery

As the conversation shifted, Jamie opened up about another significant factor contributing to her personal and professional growth: her sobriety. She spoke about how the clarity that came with being sober allowed her to fully embrace her true self and creative potential.

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“Honestly, I didn’t understand what freedom was until I got sober. Sobriety was the key to unlocking everything. You can’t fully appreciate freedom without understanding that addiction is a prison of its own. It really is the foundation of this freedom I’m talking about. The real freedom.”

The Meaning of Being an Artist

Jamie reflected on how, only in recent years, has she come to fully understand her role as an artist. She explained that this revelation happened gradually as she found herself doing more diverse and creative projects, stepping beyond her long-standing roles in horror films.

Jamie Lee Curtis:
“I never referred to myself as an artist until about five or six years ago. It’s an internal thing I never said aloud. But lately, I feel like I’m truly an artist, not just an actor. I feel like I’m in a creative meadow surrounded by opportunities I never thought I’d get. This moment, this freedom I feel, it’s something I’m savoring.”

Stephen Colbert:
“You’ve earned it, Jamie Lee. This moment is truly yours.”

As their conversation concluded, Colbert praised Jamie’s emotional journey, and the audience responded with heartfelt applause. The sincerity and rawness of her words resonated deeply, and her newfound clarity about art, sobriety, and personal freedom left a lasting impression.

The Ongoing Evolution

As Jamie Lee Curtis continues to rise in her career with accolades and recognition, her reflections on creativity and freedom are a reminder that, for artists, the journey to self-understanding and expression is always evolving. It is a reminder that true artistry comes from within, and only when one is truly free—spiritually, emotionally, and creatively—can they fully embrace their art and their purpose.

Stephen Colbert:
“Jamie Lee Curtis, everybody—thank you for sharing such a beautiful, insightful journey. We’re all better for it.”

Her story is far from over, and if this conversation is any indication, there’s much more brilliance to come from Jamie Lee Curtis. The freedom she has found is not just a personal milestone; it’s something that will continue to inspire her work and her legacy in Hollywood for years to come.