Jamie Lee Curtis Opens Up About Last-Minute Casting in ‘Freaky Friday’ Ahead of Sequel Release

May 19, 2025: Jamie Lee Curtis has shared behind-the-scenes insights about her whirlwind entry into the 2003 hit comedy Freaky Friday, revealing she was cast just two days before filming began.

Speaking to People magazine, Curtis recalled the hectic circumstances that led to her taking on the role of Tess Coleman, a tightly-wound mother who switches bodies with her teenage daughter, Anna, played by Lindsay Lohan. “I found out I was going to be in Freaky Friday two days before they started shooting, because someone else was in the movie and dropped out,” she said.

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The actress described the experience as chaotic and fast-paced, likening it to being a “circus performer” due to the demands of stepping in at the last minute while also managing her responsibilities as a mother to two young daughters, Ruby and Annie.
“I don’t remember any of it because I was now juggling like a circus performer,” Curtis shared. “So my memory at the time was to simply be in the moment of the job, and then the movie came out and people loved it.”

Despite the frenzied start, Curtis’s performance became a fan favorite, and the film has since become a beloved comedy classic known for its heartwarming humor and mother-daughter dynamics.

Now, 22 years later, Curtis and Lohan are set to return in the long-awaited sequel, Freakier Friday, which hits theaters on August 8. The follow-up will feature another body-swap twist, with both Tess and Anna switching places with two new characters, bringing a fresh spin to the chaotic comedy formula that made the original a success.