Curtis, Jamie Lee (1958- )

US actor. She is known for her self-assured stage presence, androgynous beauty, and subtle wit in films such as John Cleese's irreverent crime caper A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and James Cameron's action adventure True Lies (1994; Golden Globe Award for best actress). From the early 1990s she has also written several critically acclaimed children's picture books, including I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off A Little Self-Esteem (2002) and Is There Really A Human Race? (2006).

Her breakthrough role was as the sole surviving teenager in the cult horror film Halloween (1978). She went on to star in a series of less successful horror films during the early 1980s, such as The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train (all 1980), as well as several Halloween sequels. Other films include the John Landis comedy Trading Places (1983), the John le Carré adaptation The Tailor of Panama (2001), and Disney's family film remake Freaky Friday (2003).

She was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of legendary actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, and began her acting career on television, debuting on an episode of the crime series Columbo in 1975. Her first recurring role was on the sitcom Operation Petticoat (1977-78). Other television work includes the sitcom Anything But Love (1989-92), an adaptation of the play The Heidi Chronicles (1995), and the television film Nicholas's Gift (1998). She married US actor/director Christopher Guest (1948- ) in 1984.