Trading Places

 According to director John Landis, in casting "Trading Places" (1983), Jamie Lee Curtis was a hard sell to Paramount, because she had only done horror films and wasn't known for comedy.

Even though she was considered the Scream Queen in Hollywood at this point; having starred in a slew of horror movies; "Halloween" (1978), "Halloween 2" (1981), "The Fog" (1980), "Terror Train" (1980) and "Prom Night" (1980), and even though horror movies were infamous for exploiting their female stars, Curtis says she did not feel exploited in Hollywood until she started starring in mainstream movies like "Trading Places." She had never been asked to appear naked in any of the horror movies she starred, but once she went mainstream and starred in "Trading Places," she had to take her top off.

"The part required Ophelia to take off her dress. Did I like doing it? No. Did I feel embarrassed that I was doing it? Yes. Did I look OK? Yeah. Did I know what I was doing? Yeah. Did I like it? No. Was I doing it because it was the job? Yes."

While she was making this movie, Curtis stayed in Marlene Dietrich's apartment (12E) at 993 Park Avenue in Manhattan. She'd been engaged to Dietrich's grandson, production designer J. Michael Riva, at the time.

The country club member Muffy is played by Kelly Curtis, Jamie Lee's sister.

Curtis once said that Dan Aykroyd was the best on-screen kisser she ever worked with.

Happy Birthday, Jamie Lee Curtis!