Admirers all around the world wished they were the stunning Debra Winger when Naval Officer Zack Mayo snatched factory worker Paula into his arms and whisked her from her place of employment in a classic romantic tale.
The iconic moment from the romance drama An Officer and a Gentleman, in which Richard Gere portrayed the dashing hero in navy whites, Officer Zack Mayo, became the standard for romantic tales for daydreamers.
Acting beside some of the sexiest men in Hollywood made Debra Winger the envy of many.
Winger, who is 67 years old, is still stunning today. Winger has shared pictures of herself on Instagram throughout the last few years; initially, she had brown hair, but now it is a naturally wavy gray.
Winger played Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, in the popular TV series Wonder Woman (1979). Her first major role came in the 1976 film Slumber Party ’57. Winger was requested to make more appearances, but she declined out of fear that the role would mold her into a certain mold.
The emerging star would have a lucrative early 1980s and had no regrets about that choice.
She was nominated for multiple Academy Awards and Golden Globes during the peak of her early career for her roles in three classic 1980s films.
She costarred with John Travolta in Urban Cowboy in 1980; at the time, he was making fans go crazy with his slick dance moves in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1988); she also played Emma in Terms of Endearment (1983), where she played a dying young woman with an overbearing mother named Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine, and as Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).
Despite her enormous success, Winger took a brief break from acting to focus on other projects. Over forty years after her ascent to fame, rumors about her departure persist.
The majority of these rumors center on Winger’s conflicts with her co-stars.
Despite the fact that Winger reportedly had enough of the attractive Gere on the set, fans couldn’t get enough of him.
As stated in a passage from co-star Louis Gossett Jr.’s book “An Actor and a Gentleman,” which ABC News published, “The onscreen chemistry between the two of them was terrific, but it was a different story once the camera was turned off.” They were too close to one another to have remained apart.
Additionally, according to Gossett, Winger didn’t think highly of Gere’s acting and once called him “a brick wall.” She also called Taylor Hackford, the film’s director, who she did not like, “animal.”
Not just the characters in the movie bothered her.
MacLaine was a gorgeous, quirky, and seasoned veteran who contrasted with Winger, who was a free spirit both in real life and in her part as Emma.
Their romance began with that first meeting.
In a People interview, MacLaine stated, “I was wearing all my leftover movie-star fur coats to see how my character would feel.” “Debra was there, wearing a miniskirt and combat boots.I exclaimed, “Oh my goodness.”
According to People, “In fact, the set turned into the origin of Hollywood’s most cherished rumors.” Winger desired first place. It was said that one slugged the other.
Subsequently, the two women faced off at the Oscars after receiving nominations for best actress.
“I deserve this,” MacLaine declared in her acceptance speech as she took the award home.
Despite the rumors, Winger maintains that she “pushed the pause button” on Hollywood for private, not for work-related, reasons.
“I didn’t care for the parts that were about to happen. That was something I had already done or experienced. I required a challenge. I totally embraced the challenge that my life presented to me, Winger said to People.
MacLaine was a gorgeous, quirky, and seasoned veteran who contrasted with Winger, who was a free spirit both in real life and in her part as Emma.
Their romance began with that first meeting.
In a People interview, MacLaine stated, “I was wearing all my leftover movie-star fur coats to see how my character would feel.” “Debra was there, wearing a miniskirt and combat boots.I exclaimed, “Oh my goodness.”
According to People, “In fact, the set turned into the origin of Hollywood’s most cherished rumors.” Winger desired first place. It was said that one slugged the other.
Subsequently, the two women faced off at the Oscars after receiving nominations for best actress.
“I deserve this,” MacLaine declared in her acceptance speech as she took the award home.
Despite the rumors, Winger maintains that she “pushed the pause button” on Hollywood for private, not for work-related, reasons.
“I didn’t care for the parts that were about to happen. That was something I had already done or experienced. I required a challenge. I totally embraced the challenge that my life presented to me, Winger said to People.
We can’t imagine a Hollywood without Debra Winger and we hope she soon gets to take home an Academy Award! What are your favorite Winger movies?
Acting alongside Hollywood’s hottest men, Debra Winger was the envy of many.
Today, Winger, 67, is as beautiful as ever. In the past few years, Winger has posted photos herself on Instagram, first with brown hair and now to a natural wavy gray.
Winger’s first starring role was in the 1976 film Slumber Party ‘57, which led to a part on the hit TV series Wonder Woman (1979), where she played Drusilla, the younger sister to Lynda Carter’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Winger was asked to appear more often but concerned she’d be typecast by that role, she declined.
There were no regrets for that decision, the early ‘80s would be prosperous for the rising star.
At the height of her young career, she received numerous nods from the Academy and Golden Globes for performances in three iconic movies of the 1980’s.
In 1980, she starred in Urban Cowboy, with John Travolta, who at the time was driving fans wild with his smooth dance moves in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1988); as Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and in Terms of Endearment (1983), where she played Emma, a dying young woman with an over-bearing mother, Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine.
Despite her huge success, Winger, carving hours from her acting schedule, took a mini Hollywood hiatus, and more than four decades after her rise to stardom, speculation of why she left is still circulating.
Most of these rumours revolve around the feuds that Winger had with her co-stars.
Though fans couldn’t get enough of the handsome Gere, it’s been widely reported that Winger had enough of him on the set.
According to an excerpt published on ABC News from the book, “An Actor and a Gentleman,” by co-star, Louis Gossett Jr., who played Sgt. Emil Foley: “The onscreen chemistry between the two of them was terrific, but it was a different story once the camera was turned off. They couldn’t have stayed farther apart from each other.”
Gossett also claims that Winger didn’t think much of Gere’s acting and wrote that she once described Gere as “a brick wall.” And, the film’s director, Taylor Hackford, whom she also did not like, she referred to as “animal.”
It wasn’t only people on that film that ruffled her feathers.
Winger, a free spirit in real life and in her role as Emma, also clashed with the prolific MacLaine, a glamorous, eccentric and seasoned veteran.
Their first meeting set the stage for their relationship.
“To see how my character would feel I was wearing all my leftover movie-star fur coats,” MacLaine said in an interview with People. “There was Debra dressed in combat boots and a miniskirt…I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’”
People writes, “Indeed, the set became the source of Hollywood’s most relished rumors. Winger wanted top billing. One reportedly slugged the other.”
And then, the women were pitted against each other in the Oscars when they were both nominated for best actress.
MacLaine, taking the trophy home, said in her acceptance speech, “I deserve this!”
Rumors aside, Winger insists she “pushed the pause button” on Hollywood for personal reasons and not professional.
“The parts that were coming, I wasn’t interested in. I’d already done that or I’d already felt that. I needed to be challenged. My life challenged me more than the parts, so I dove into it fully,” Winger told People.
After starring in the 1995 romcom Forget Paris with Billy Crystal, Winger took a six-year break.
In that time, she moved to New York City and shifted her focus to actor Arliss Howard, whom she married in 1996. The pair have a son, Gideon Babe, who was born in 1997, and she is stepmother to Sam, Howard’s son from a previous marriage. She also has another biological child, Noah Hutton, whom she mothered while married to her first husband, Timothy Hutton (1986 to 1990).
She reappeared in the 2001 film Big Bad Love, that was directed and produced by her husband, who also co-starred alongside Winger and Rosanna Arquette, who’s next project was 2002 film Searching for Debra Winger. As director of the documentary, Arquette attempts to answer why Winger temporarily abandoned her career at peak performance.
Winger gained some momentum with roles in Rachel Getting Married (2008) with Anne Hathaway, the 2017 romcom The Lovers, and the crime-comedy, Kajillionaire (2020).
In 2021, she was in With/In, Volume two of the anthological drama film, in the segment Her Own, which is written and directed by her husband, who also co-stars.
“I don’t know what Hollywood is. I’m living under the freaking sign now, and I just stare at it and laugh. Los Angeles is a place, but the idea of Hollywood doesn’t really exist for me,” Winger said, adding, “…although there must be some in-crowds that I just don’t know about.”
Without Debra Winger, we couldn’t imagine Hollywood, and we hope she wins an Oscar soon! Which Winger films are your favorites?
Is your birth number a good match? Let’s find out!
1) What is your birth number?
In numerology, numbers are really important. Your number can help you see if you and your partner are a good match or not. Here’s how it works.
2) How do you calculate your birth number?
Add all the digits of your birth date together until you get a single number. Once you know your number, you can check the compatibility chart to see how well you match with others.
3) Number 1:
If your number is 1, your best matches are people with numbers 3 and 5. These numbers tend to be easygoing and can handle your strong and sometimes bossy personality.
4) On the other hand,
it’s best to avoid people with a number 8 because both 1 and 8 can be too competitive with each other. While number 2 is gentle, sensitive, and diplomatic, they work better with a number 1 in a business or work relationship, rather than a romantic one.
5) Number 2:
If your number is 2, your best matches are with people who have the visionary number 8 or the kind, caring number 9. The business-focused number 8 is a great fit because your gentle nature balances their strong, hardworking personality, whether in love or business. Number 9, who is calm and sophisticated, is also a good match. You might also get along well with a protective and loving number 6.
6) On the other hand,
a practical and reliable number 4 might seem like a good match at first, but over time, they may feel boring to you. The same goes for the serious and quiet number 7. A 1 and 2 pairing can work, but only if both understand and respect their different roles in the relationship.
7) Number 3:
If your number is 3, you’ve probably had great relationships with people who have numbers 5 and 7. The fun and adventurous number 5 matches your love for excitement and unpredictability, while the thoughtful and mysterious number 7 brings depth and meaning to your life.
8) On the other hand,
it’s best to avoid someone with the number 4, even though they are reliable and practical. When a 3 and 4 are together, they tend to bring out the worst in each other, even though their qualities could be good for the relationship.
9) Number 4:
If your number is 4, you value long-term, stable relationships more than any other number. It’s not that you dislike being alone, but you prefer a steady, routine lifestyle that comes with lasting relationships. Because of this, you get along well with people who have numbers 2, 4, and 8.
10) On the other hand,
number 4s usually don’t get along well with numbers 3, 6, and 8 because those numbers are more outgoing and flashy.
11) Number 5:
If your number is 5, you have many great options for romantic partners. The bold and adventurous number 1 is a good match, as well as the fun and creative number 3. You might also connect well with the caring and supportive number 6 and the sincere number 7.
12) On the other hand,
you might not get along with numbers 4 and 8 unless one of you is ready to change completely.
13) Number 6:
If your number is 6, you can have a happy, long-lasting relationship with just about any number. Your willingness to make sacrifices helps create a strong foundation in any relationship.
14) On the other hand,
even though you get along with most numbers, 3 and 5 could be tricky because they tend to focus on themselves.
15) Number 7:
If your number is 7, you are the least likely to get married and stay married compared to the other numbers. However, many 7s do end up getting married, but often later in life. You’ll likely get along well with numbers 3 and 5.
16) On the other hand,
you might not get along well with number 2 because you find them too shallow and sentimental. Number 1 feels too bossy for you, while number 8 seems too focused on money. You also think number 9 is too distant.
17) Number 8:
If your number is 8, you’re likely to choose a partner whom you can guide and have some control over. Because of this, number 2, who is nurturing, and number 6, who is caring and supportive, are usually good matches for you.
18) On the other hand,
the strong and independent number 1 might end up arguing with you every day. The free-spirited number 5 isn’t a good match either, and neither is the creative number 3, who can be unreliable and inconsistent.
19) Number 9:
If your number is 9, you might face the most challenges in relationships compared to the other numbers. You have a noble side and value your independence. Because of this, you’ll likely get along well with numbers 2 and 3.
20) On the other hand,
you might want to steer clear of the unpredictable number 5 and the unconventional number 7. Numbers 1 and 9 are very different from each other, which can make them attracted to one another, but they usually don’t stay together.
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