More than 20 years after “Freaky Friday” became a generational favorite, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back on screen together. The sequel hits theaters Friday, picking up years after the original and introducing a new generation to the mother-daughter body-swap comedy.
Released in 2003 as a remake of the 1976 film, “Freaky Friday” followed a tightly wound mother and her rebellious teenage daughter who magically switch bodies after a fortune cookie mishap and are forced to live each other’s lives for a day. The film earned over $160 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Since then, both actors have taken different paths in Hollywood, but have found their way back to their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman.
From Activia ads to the Academy Awards: Jamie Lee Curtis
After “Freaky Friday,” Curtis shifted focus to her literary career and made frequent commercial appearances, including a long-running campaign for Activia. She later returned to acting in both television and film, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Curtis’ notable roles and projects:
- “You Again” (2010)
- “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004)
- “NCIS” (recurring role, 2012)
- “Halloween” films (1978–2022)
- “Knives Out” (2019)
- “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) — won Academy Award for best supporting actress
Curtis has written several bestselling children’s books, including “Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born” and “Big Words for Little People."
In recent years, Curtis has become a public advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility around aging in Hollywood. She has spoken openly about parenting a transgender daughter and addressing industry-wide ageism.
According to The Guardian, during a 2018 global press tour for “Halloween,” fans consistently asked her about a potential “Freaky Friday” sequel. That interest prompted her to call Disney CEO Bob Iger. “I said: ‘Look, I don’t know if you’re planning on doing (a sequel), but Lindsay is old enough to have a teenager now, and I’m telling you the market for that movie exists,’” Curtis recalled.
A new chapter for Lindsay Lohan
Following her time as Anna Coleman, Lohan became one of the most recognized teen stars of the early 2000s. She faced a period of personal and legal difficulties in the years that followed, stepping back from the spotlight before reemerging in the 2020s.
Lohan’s notable roles and projects:
- “Mean Girls” (2004)
- “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” (2004)
- “Herbie: Fully Loaded” (2005)
- “Falling for Christmas” (2022)
- “Irish Wish” (2024)
Lohan’s career was interrupted by challenges that drew heavy media attention. In the past few years, she’s quietly reemerged with a more measured public image.
Lohan married financier Bader Shammas in 2022 and welcomed their first child in 2023. In recent interviews, she’s spoken about her renewed focus on family and work-life balance.
Lohan and Curtis reflect on 20 years
When asked what had changed the most in the 20 years since the pair had worked together, Lohan told the "Today Show Australia," “I’ve had a kid,” prompting Curtis to laugh and add, “And mine have grown up.”
“I’ve lived such a long life in a such a short amount of time, really, and I’ve learned so many lessons,” Lohan said. “I’m really grateful for my life today and I’m really appreciative for it. I wouldn’t really want to switch with anyone. I wouldn’t give up a moment in my shoes with my son or my husband or my family.”
At the film’s world premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Curtis explained the timing behind the sequel.
“There’s math involved. You couldn’t make this movie if Lindsay didn’t have a teenage daughter, so she had to be old enough,” Curtis told TheWrap. “And there’s a nostalgia about the movie. In a time of turmoil, you cling to something nostalgic and familiar, so it’s like comfort food.”
“I think ‘Freaky Friday’ is sort of cinema comfort food,” she added. “It’s satisfying, makes you feel good, makes you laugh, makes you cry.”