Written by Jamie Lee Curtis of Halloween fame turned down the role of one of the biggest horror movies of the Golden era of Hollywood, and it appears that it wasn’t even her decision. Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show, Curtis explained:
Ray Stark, who was the producer of The Exorcist, was a very good friend of my mother’s, and he called my mom and said, ‘Hey, I’m producing the movie of the book The Exorcist. Will you let Jamie audition for it? At the time, I was probably 12 and like cute and kind of sassy and I had some personality. And I’m sure he saw me at a party and was like, ‘Oh, she’d be funny.’ And my mother said, ‘No, no, Stark. No.’
Jamie Lee Curtis went on to explain that her mother, Janet Leigh, wanted to give Curtis a childhood and shield her from the pressures of Hollywood at such a young age. This resonated with Drew Barrymore as she didn’t have that parental guidance growing up.
Jamie Lee Curtis’ Mom Saved Her From Hollywood
Janet Leigh in Psycho | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Janet Leight, who plays the famous victim in Psycho, saved her daughter from Hollywood after she went through trauma herself. By immediately refusing the role, she saved herself from horror stardom and typecasting that The Exorcist child actor ended up facing.
Ironically, Jamie Lee Curtis would then star in the horror Halloween franchise for decades, effectively typecasting her into the role, but at least as a mature 19-year-old adult.
The role of the possessed child in The Exorcist went to Linda Blair, who went through hell on the production of the flick, and it looks like Janet Leigh’s Hollywood experience, including films like Touch of Evil, The Manchurian Candidate, and Little Women, helped save Curtis.
The Exorcist Was a Gruelling Shoot for the Child Actor
Linda Blair was primed and ready to take on the role after 2000 girls were auditioned. Unfortunately, most of the burden and rigour of shooting fell directly on the child actor rather than the double for the film’s horrific scenes. Here are key details of the film.
CategoryDetailsTitleThe ExorcistRelease Year1973DirectorWilliam FriedkinScreenwriterWilliam Peter BlattyBased OnThe Exorcist (1971 novel) by William Peter BlattyGenreSupernatural HorrorRuntime122 minutesMain CastEllen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil), Linda Blair (Regan MacNeil), Max von Sydow (Father Merrin), Jason Miller (Father Karras)Plot PremiseA young girl becomes possessed by a demonic entity, leading her mother to seek help from two Catholic priests who perform an exorcism.SettingGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.Production CompanyWarner Bros.
Blair was left on a refrigerated bed that was kept at 0 degrees so that anyone speaking would leave an icy trail of fog, according to the Independent. The young actress struggled with her makeup so badly that it burned her face.
The violent scenes with harnesses and the mechanical bed work led to Linda Blair developing scoliosis and chronic back pain after a spinal fracture. The film sparked rage among religious folk that she is Satanic, prompting Warner Bros. to hire bodyguards.
Blair suffered a lot in her career post-Exorcist, typecast as a victim in more films despite an Academy Award nomination. Jamie Lee Curtis could’ve just as easily had a terrible experience, were it not for the intervention of her mother.
What do you think of Janet Leigh turning down The Exorcist for her daughter, Curtis? Let us know in the comments.
The Exorcist is available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Amazon in the U.S.
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