'Have to own who we are': ‘The Bear’ star Jamie Lee Curtis talks about 25 years of sobriety with ‘Today’ host Hoda Kotb

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘The Bear’ star Jamie Lee Curtis recently appeared on NBC’s ‘Today’ morning show to promote her new children’s book ‘Just One More Sleep’ and talked about what she learned from her 25 years of sobriety.

In her interview, Curtis also opened up about how she works to put positivity out into the world, what she learned in recovery last year about people pleasing, and asked the Oscars’ producers if she’ll be presenting this year.

The 65-year-old accepted her first Oscar in March 2023 for Best Supporting Actress from presenters Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur for the film 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'.

Jamie Lee Curtis talks about 25 years of sobriety

In an interview with Hoda Kotb on the ‘Today’ show on Tuesday, Curtis discussed her new children's book, ‘Just One More Sleep' and walked down memory lane as she reflected on her sobriety journey.

She told Hoda Kotb what she learned from her 25 years of being sober and explained why being 65 is a moment of “excitement” for her.

While recalling her years in recovery, she said, “I’m sober for a long time, long time, almost 25 years."

“The best thing I learned last year in recovery was people aren’t pleased when you stop people-pleasing. It was as if the greatest sage arrived on me.”

She continued, “So I’m trying to own it. Isn’t that what life is supposed to be? We grow up, we learn, we do all these things. Now we have to own it. We have to own who we are, be who we are, and be in full acceptance of who we are and what we’re not. And I think that’s the beauty of me right now, owning it.”

‘The Bear’ star has been vocal about her past struggle with addiction. She told People in 2018, “I was ahead of the curve of the opiate epidemic. I had a 10-year run, stealing, conniving. No one knew. No one.”

Curtis’ addiction to prescription pills began in the '80s after she was prescribed painkillers following a minor eye surgery.

Jamie Lee Curtis says sixty-five is a moment of 'reflection and excitement'

While explaining why turning 65 is a moment of excitement for her, Curtis told Kotb, “Sixty-five is a moment of reflection and excitement. So, for me, I feel more excited, more turned on creatively. I have a new book. I’m heading to go make a movie. I got to be in a TV show. I’m having a creative time.”

She continued, “I’m much less hard on myself. I’m very much in acceptance of what I look like and I own what I think and feel. And that, to me, is what maturity is. You own what you think and feel. I say what I mean. I mean what I say. I try not to say it mean. And that’s a way then to grow into my old age.”

Curtis further elaborated on her current mindset, expressing that at this stage in her life, she is more attuned to the present than the future.

Reflecting on the day-to-day aspects of life, she said, “You’re thinking about new shoes, new clothes, dentists, schools, things. Everything is the future. And when you’re my age, that isn’t, you’re not thinking about the future because the future means you’re going to be dead.”

‘Trading Places’ star concluded, “I mean it. What it means is that you’re very much more in the present moment. I’m here and I’m really happy to be. And that’s really what to me 65 has yielded.”