Jamie Lee Curtis Reveals Why She Did Surprisingly Shocking Yogurt Ads!
CANNES — Jamie Lee Curtis was among the early actresses to appear in commercials during her career’s peak. She famously promoted “yogurt that makes you s–t” and starred in ads featuring a “murdering motherf–ker.”
Her first advertising role was for Hertz rental cars, where she shared the screen with OJ Simpson. Besides Hertz, she also appeared in campaigns for Hitachi, L’eggs pantyhose, and Voice Stream Wireless. However, she became most recognized for her ads selling probiotic yogurt, she revealed at Cannes Lions 2025.
When signing on as the face of Activia, Curtis recalled her agents questioning her decision, wondering why she’d choose advertising while still acting in film and TV roles.
She explained, “I was trying to stay home with my kid,” as the reason behind her decision to do ads.
Today, Curtis observes that appearing in commercials while in the prime of one’s acting career has become more commonplace. “I sold yogurt that makes you s–t for six years, and I won an Oscar,” she noted. “That crossover really happens now. We can promote products and pretend to be other people simultaneously. The way consumers engage with content has shifted — there’s no stigma anymore.”
She also advocates for authenticity, criticizing plastic surgery aimed at young women, calling it “disfiguring.”
“If I ask you to trust me and believe me, I’ll tell you the truth,” Curtis stated. She criticized the cosmetic industry, saying it disfigures young women who mostly need sunscreen. “I hope we can tell the truth and sell products — that partnership is what I seek,” she added.
Her next project involves producing and acting in the upcoming Prime Video series “Scarpetta” with Nicole Kidman. Despite coming from Hollywood royalty (Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh), she insists she never intended to pursue acting.
“I didn’t plan to be an actor,” she revealed. “I was terrible at it — I couldn’t even spell ‘actor’. I scored 840 on my SATs, aiming to become a cop. Honestly, I thought I’d be a police officer.”
Her life changed after a chance meeting during college break. “A guy I ran into during Christmas told me to audition for Nancy Drew,” she recalled. Although she didn’t land that role, she realized “life depends on unpredictable moments.”
She pointed out a 1984 photo of her future husband, Christopher Guest, in Rolling Stone promoting “Spinal Tap,” which she knew was meant to be her future husband.
Despite their differences, Curtis and Guest have been married for four decades. “We are extremely different,” she said. “You don’t need common interests — nothing in common, really.”