Jamie Lee who? Are you referring to the high and mighty Baroness Haden-Guest of Saling of County Essex in Merrie Olde England? Of course, although the title is impressive, it isn't her full-time job. Because she spends almost all of her time in Hollywood, and not often is presiding over her royal estates, the Baroness goes by the more common name of Jamie Lee Curtis. She acquired the royal title through her husband of 16 years, nobly-born British film producer, director and actor Christopher Guest ("Best in Show" and "Waiting For Guffman").

Jamie Lee Curtis is truly recognized today as an artist in two professional fields, acting and writing. The acclaimed movie star and children's book author gets her considerable talent from her famous 1950s and 1960s movie star parents, Janet Leigh ("Psycho") and Tony Curtis ("Some Like It Hot"). Her mother is deceased, and her father, now 83 and still active in show business, is also recognized as a talented landscape and portrait painter. Now 49, Jamie Lee launched her movie career in the late 1970s and early 1980's by starring in a string of super hit horror movies.

Jamie Lee said she got the horror movie roles because when she auditioned in the late 1970s, she could shake the walls with her ear-splitting screams better than any other teen actress. Her tall, elegant figure, deep voice and expressive face made her a natural to play the harried teenager who bravely fights off all the evil-looking bad guys, including Freddy, the infamous and murderous villain in the hockey mask. Among the significant Jamie Lee starring horror hits of that era were "Halloween" and sequel "Halloween II", "The Fog" and "Prom Night".

Jamie Lee has also starred in non-horror, first-quality movies including, "A Fish Called Wanda", "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy, a James Bond thriller, "The Tailor of Panama" and "Freaky Friday". She also portrayed the heroic wife in "True Lies", where she co-starred with future California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She's been active in television roles, and won or was nominated for a total of six Golden Globe awards and an Emmy.

Since she began raising her own children, Annie and and Thomas, in the early 1990s, Jamie Lee continues to write best-selling children's books, which she says are all inspired by her children's lives and questions they ask their parents. The books include, "When I Was Little", "Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born", "Where Do Balloons Go?" and "Is There Really A Human Race?"

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Artist profile: Jamie Lee Curtis?
We want to hear your view. Write now!