Jamie Lee Curtis to Narrate Book On Diane Foley, Mother of Journalist James Foley (Exclusive)

Diane Foley, whose son was killed in Syria while working as a journalist, tells her story in ‘American Mother,’ written with Colum McCann

Jamie Lee Curtis will narrate the audiobook for an upcoming book by Colum McCann and Diane Foley.

The Academy Award-winning actress, 65, will lend her voice to the audio edition of American Mother, forthcoming this spring from Etruscan Press. The book shares the story of Diane, whose son, journalist James Foley, was kidnapped and killed while on assignment in Syria in 2014.

In American Mother, Diane looks back on James’s life, from his childhood to his career as a freelance war correspondent. In 2012, while working in Syria, James was captured and held hostage by ISIS. In 2014, he was murdered by the extremist group, who released the video of his execution online.

“I am honored to bring Diane’s story to life,” Curtis says in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “Many are familiar with Jim’s kidnapping and his brutal beheading 10 years ago. It was broadcast all around the world and became one of the iconic photos of our time. But few know the real story of exactly how this ordinary mother of five, former nurse and literal force of nature took the worst imaginable event in her life and turned it into a powerful act of grace.”

Related: James Foley's Parents: His Bravery Was an Answer to Our Prayers

The book will also detail what the Foley family went through while James was being held captive, as well as Diane's meeting with one of the men who killed him. Diane, who resigned from her job as a nurse practitioner to advocate for her son’s release in 2013, founded the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in 2014. The organization advocates for Americans wrongfully detained abroad and for the safety of journalists and international travelers, per their website.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of Jim’s horrific public murder,” Diane says in a statement. “Over 100 innocent Americans have been freed since 2014, but international kidnapping continues as fellow Americans are targeted and held captive in Gaza, Russia, China, Iran, Syria and around the world. I am so grateful to Jamie Lee for so generously helping tell Jim’s story and continuing his legacy of goodness."

“There is not a better voice to tell Diane’s story with grace and humility than Jamie Lee,” McCann adds.

Related: Jamie Lee Curtis Reveals How Her Young Neighbor Inspired Her Latest Children's Book, Just One Sleep (Exclusive)

James’s story was also shared in the 2016 documentary Jim: The James Foley Story, which featured Sting’s Academy Award-nominated song “Empty Chair.”

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“There were many times when I read this book aloud that I had to stop and literally sob,” Curtis continues. “But then, somehow, Diane found the words and the hope to keep me going. Ultimately this is a work of great faith and redemption. And here is a woman making the whole world accessible to us all.”

American Mother will be published on March 5, 2024 in both print and audiobook formats.

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