Veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis was honored with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts by the American Film Institute during the conservatory's commencement ceremony. The event took place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday, as reported by Variety.
"If you examine the records, you'll see I wasn't expected to be here," Curtis remarked at the start of her speech. "I am the underachiever who has just been bestowed this remarkable honor."
"For you graduates, I symbolize the underachiever who has succeeded," Curtis elaborated. "Today, I can proudly declare myself an artist. At 19, I couldn't have said that, not knowing my path. I entered acting by chance; so did my parents."
The accolade was conferred upon Curtis by director John Carpenter, who initially cast her as Laurie Strode in the iconic horror film, launching her cinematic career.
"Jamie Lee was and remains a natural talent," Carpenter commented on Curtis's role in the 1978 film. "She comes from a distinguished lineage; her parents were renowned film stars [Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis]. Yet, she herself is, and always has been, a force to be reckoned with."
Concluding her address to the MFA graduates, Curtis urged them to "remain open, free, engaged, and enthusiastic. Avoid complacency. Don't assume you're entitled to more than you receive. Strive for it. Earn it. Help save the universe. Please. God bless you all, thank you."
Curtis also shared her joy on Instagram regarding the honor, stating, "I never imagined receiving a degree from a prestigious institution like @americanfilminstitute, and to have the esteemed @johncarpenterofficial present it. Their students are the future of the arts, and we're fortunate they attend such a pivotal institution with its exceptional leadership and faculty. I am deeply grateful for their warm hospitality and kind reception."
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Past recipients of honorary AFI degrees include notable figures such as Michelle Yeoh, Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Saul Bass, Angela Bassett, Kathryn Bigelow, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Clint Eastwood, Rita Moreno, Spike Lee, and Jodie Foster, among others.
