- - Chad Michael Murray Knew He ‘Liked Girls’ After Watching Jamie Lee Curtis in “Trading Places”: ‘One of Those Moments’

Tereza ShkurtajJanuary 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM

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Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

Jamie Lee Curtis, Chad Michael Murray. -

On Jan. 7, 2026, Chad Michael Murray made an appearance on the Like A Farmer Podcast, hosted by Pat Spinosa

During the episode, the 44-year-old actor discussed life in Hollywood and working with Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday

Murray even shared with Spinosa the moment his younger self realized that he “liked girls" involved Curtis

Chad Michael Murray has long been a staple of teen and young adult pop culture, captivating audiences with a string of iconic roles.

He first stole hearts as Tristin DuGray on Gilmore Girls, before becoming the brooding Lucas Scott on the television series One Tree Hill, and later charming viewers as Austin Ames in A Cinderella Story.

Yet, many fans fondly remember him as Jake in the Freaky Friday films, where, at just 19 years old, he had the chance to share the screen with legend Jamie Lee Curtis and a young Lindsay Lohan.

In a recent episode of the Like A Farmer Podcast, Murray revealed to host Pat Spinosa that Curtis also played a surprising role in his life long before they met on the comedy flick.

Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty

Jamie Lee Curtis in 'Trading Places.'

Murray recalled the first time he watched 1983's Trading Places with his dad and seeing then-24-year-old Curtis on screen for the first time.

“She's a hooker in that. And I think that was when I was like, 'Oh, nope. I like girls,” Murray told Spinosa. “That was one of those moments.”

"I was like, 'What is that? I feel something,'" he joked.

That early impression stayed with him, especially as he later had the chance to work alongside Curtis herself in 2003’s Freaky Friday.

Murray gushed about his now-67-year-old costar, saying, “She's awesome... She was the first person that I ever got to have the opportunity to work with, where I was like, 'Okay, this is like an icon.' "

The Dawson's Creek alum noted that Curtis was born into "Hollywood royalty."

"[She was] born in it, raised in it, continued to do it, then lived up to expectations," he said. "Then she goes and has Halloween and True Lies, and Trading Places and all these unbelievable films."

Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

Chad Michael Murray, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan.

In 2025, Murray, Curtis, and Lohan all reprised their roles for Freakier Friday, bringing a fresh sense of fun and nostalgia to the beloved story. Over two decades after the original, the cast reunited with enthusiasm, celebrating the humor and heart that made the film resonate for generations.

During his conversation with Spinosa, Murray agreed that Curtis has only gotten better-looking as the years have gone on, noting that there's a reason his character in the movie, Jake, has "an affinity" for Curtis' character, Tess Coleman.

Previously, while attending Christmas Con 2024 in Edison, N.J., the actor took part in a fan Q&A, where he called the sequel a “nostalgic kick.”

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"It felt like a high school reunion, you know? It felt like no time had passed, and yet we had entire lives in between,” he said at the event.

Looking back, Murray told Spinosa that he credits Curtis for making it all possible, saying simply: “It’s just all Jamie Lee – Jamie Lee made it happen.”

For him, Curtis’ vision, energy, and dedication were the driving force behind keeping the magic of Freaky Friday alive.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”