Jamie Lee Curtis foresaw she’d play Donna Berzatto on The Bear

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Jamie Lee Curtis foresaw she'd play Donna Berzatto on The Bear

As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Jamie Lee Curtis‘ performance in The Bear was nothing short of extraordinary. Having grown up watching her iconic roles in Halloween, Trading Places, and True Lies, it was surreal to see her grace the small screen in such a powerful, complex character like Donna Berzatto.

In season 2 of “The Bear,” Jamie Lee Curtis shone brightly, and now she’s sharing insights about her critically-acclaimed performance on the popular series!

Since her childhood, Curtis has been a prominent figure in Hollywood, given that she’s the daughter of iconic actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, who were already deeply ingrained in the industry. Her breakout role in “Halloween” marked the beginning of a film career that spanned decades and produced successful films such as “Trading Places,” “True Lies,” “Freaky Friday.” This career eventually led to Curtis receiving an Oscar for her outstanding performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

As a devoted admirer, I must say it’s always a delight to spot Curtis on the small screen! While she’s graced the silver screen with her stellar performances in movies, her appearances on television have been quite unexpected and thrilling. For instance, who would have thought she’d be the lead in the ABC sitcom “Anything But Love”? And let me tell you, her recurring roles on shows like “NCIS” and “New Girl” have been truly captivating, even though they’re relatively rare given her movie stardom.

Her performance in “The Bear” episode titled “Fishes,” set during Christmas for characters Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Mikey (Jon Bernthal), and Natalie (Abby Elliot), significantly elevated the show’s second season on FX/Hulu. Remarkably, Donna Berzatto, played by Curtis, was not previously announced as involved in this episode. The strong ensemble cast also included Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, and John Mulaney.

In this episode, we witnessed the complex relationships within the Berzatto family, particularly with Donna, a woman under great emotional stress who later revealed signs of significant mental health struggles. This tense situation reached its peak when she drove a car into the living room. This powerful episode has been widely acclaimed as one of the series’ finest moments, and Curtis was even nominated for an Emmy award for his performance.

Talking to Deadline about my career and promoting my upcoming film “Borderlands”, I confessed that in season 1 of The Bear, I felt an uncanny anticipation when characters mentioned Donna – it was as if fate was nudging me towards the role. I remember thinking, “I’m going to play her.” I swear! Guess what? My agent then confirmed that I had been offered a part on The Bear!

Straight away, Curtis phoned up the show’s maker, Christopher Storer, who provided an unexpected spark for the character’s appearance. “I asked him, ‘What should her hair style be?’ He sent me a photo of Monica Vitti. I enquired about her nails and he sent me a picture of the Desperate Housewives of New York.”

It was a great turn that fans hope leads to more of Donna. 

Is Donna coming back to The Bear?

In season 3, Donna reappeared when Natalie went into labor during the “Ice Chips” episode, and with some hesitation, she was called upon for assistance. This incident sparked a heartfelt conversation between them in which Donna confessed her past struggles with abuse and how it affected her, acknowledged her shortcomings as a mother, and expressed her desire to improve.

As a gamer enthusiastically following the latest updates, I’m thrilled about season 4 confirmation, but it’s a bit tricky with Donna’s potential return given Curtis’ packed schedule. You know, “Fishes” had a super secretive production just to keep its guest cast from spilling the beans before the release. Yet, Curtis seems drawn back into the role, as she admitted one of Donna’s lines resonates with her on Deadline.

Donna in The Bear has that incredibly beautiful line where she says, “I make things beautiful for them. No one makes anything beautiful for me.” That feeling of being unseen, and yet so much effort is put into your life, and it isn’t responded back. Or it is, but she just can’t see it. I’ve had a lot of people say that. That line in particular really got them.

In a distinguished and fruitful career like Curtis’s, The Bear has delivered one of her most exceptional performances, leaving fans eagerly anticipating her potential return.

The Bear is streaming on Hulu. 

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2024-08-09 23:53