Jamie Lee Curtis Recalls Going Makeup-Free and Posing in Her Underwear in a Magazine 22 Years Ago (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jamie Lee Curtis.Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty

In 2002, the Oscar winner, 66, made the bold decision to pose on thecover ofMoremagazinewithout any makeup and wearing nothing but a sports bra and underwear. In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, Curtis explains why having “fallen prey” to unrealistic beauty standards influenced her decision to strip down for the photo shoot, which was also published without any retouches.

“I said, ‘I will do it if you do a picture of me with no makeup, no clothes, no styling, no hair, nothing,” says Curtis. “And then you do me completely dressed up, fully made up, glammed out, and you tell how long it took, how much money it costs, how many people it took to get me to look like that.”

Jamie Lee Curtis.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

In doing this, the actress wanted to showcase the “power of telling the truth.”

“I have been a vocal critic, and we’ll go to my grave with it, that there is a cosmeceutical industrial complex telling women they are not enough without this bulls— idea of face augmentation, fillers, injections, lifts, all of the glow-ups that these women are doing.”

She clarifies that anyone is “free to do whatever the f— they want” when it comes to their appearance, but hopes that people can feel equally empowered without touch-ups.

Jamie Lee Curtis in “The Last Showgirl”.Roadside Attractions

Roadside Attractions

It’s why Curtis completely resonated withPamela Andersonwhen she embarked on ajourney of going makeup-freeat Paris Fashion Week in September 2023.

“I started sobbing because it’s exactly what we should be doing,” Curtis said of Anderson, who inspired her to post abare-faced selfieto Instagram on her 66th birthday this past November. “I respect her so much for it,” adds theHalloweenstar.

Pamela Anderson goes barefaced for “The Last Showgirl” screening in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, 2024.Amanda Edwards/Getty

Amanda Edwards/Getty

Anderson, who has continued going bare-faced for the promotion ofThe Last Showgirl, which also stars Curtis, tells PEOPLE that she’s felt “spiritually” liberated since embracing her natural beauty in the public eye.

“I was always creating characters in my personal life for protection or dressing for other people to make them happy. I went back into my garden, peeled it all back, put one of my sun hats on and looked in the mirror and I thought, ‘It’s good enough.’”

For more on Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson, pick up the new issue ofPEOPLE.

source: people.com