Fans around the world have long admired Debra Winger, wishing they could be in her shoes when Naval Officer Zack Mayo, played by Richard Gere, sweeps factory worker Paula into his arms and takes her away from her mundane job in one of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history. This iconic moment from the beloved romantic classic An Officer and a Gentleman continues to captivate audiences and remains a hallmark of timeless love stories.
At 67, Winger remains as stunning as ever. Over the past few years, she has shared a glimpse of her evolving style on Instagram, first showing off her rich brown hair and more recently embracing her natural wavy gray locks.
Winger’s acting career began with her cinematic debut in Slumber Party ’57 (1976), where she portrayed Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s iconic character Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. This role led to an opportunity to join the cast of the popular TV series Wonder Woman in 1979. Although she was invited to appear more frequently on the show, Winger declined, fearing that the role would typecast her and limit her future career opportunities.
There were no regrets about that choice; the emerging star would have success in the early 1980s.
She garnered multiple Academy and Golden Globe nominations for her work in three influential 1980s films while her career was at its peak.
She co-starred in Urban Cowboy with John Travolta in 1980. At the time, he was thrilling audiences with his smooth dance moves in Grease (1988) and Saturday Night Fever (1977). She also appeared in Officer and a Gentleman (1982) as Paula, and Terms of Endearment (1983) as Emma, a dying young woman with an overbearing mother Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine.
Despite her enormous success, Winger took a brief vacation from acting, and, more than 40 years after her ascent to fame, rumors about her reasons for leaving are still rife.
These rumors frequently center on the conflicts between Winger and her co-stars.
It has often been reported that Debra Winger had grown weary of working with the undeniably handsome Richard Gere on the set, despite the fact that fans couldn’t get enough of his charm and presence.
Louis Gossett Jr., who played Sgt. Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman, shared his perspective in his book An Actor and a Gentleman. In an excerpt featured on ABC News, Gossett described the dynamic between Winger and Gere: “The onscreen chemistry between the two of them was tremendous, but it was a different story once the cameras stopped rolling. They kept their distance from each other.”
Gossett went on to claim that Winger was unimpressed with Gere’s acting performance and once referred to him as “a brick wall” in her writings. She also reportedly referred to the film’s director, Taylor Hackford, as an “animal.” Winger’s frustrations weren’t limited to her co-stars, revealing her complex feelings about the entire production.
In addition, the productive MacLaine, a glamorous, quirky, and seasoned veteran, clashed with Winger, a free spirit both in real life and in her character as Emma.
Their initial encounter created the foundation for their relationship.
In an interview with People, MacLaine stated, “I was wearing all my leftover movie-star fur coats to see how my character would feel.” “There was Debra, wearing a miniskirt and combat boots…I had a “Oh my goodness” moment.
In fact, the scene turned into the wellspring of Hollywood’s most cherished rumors, according to People. Winger desired the spotlight. According to reports, one hit the other.
When they were both nominated for best actress at the Oscars, the women were then pitted against one another.
In her acceptance speech after receiving the prize, MacLaine stated, “I deserve this!”
Despite rumors, Winger maintains that she “pushed the pause button” on Hollywood for personal and not work-related reasons.
“I wasn’t interested in the sections that were coming. I had previously either done it or felt it. I required a challenge. I delved into my life totally because it pushed me more than the pieces did, Winger said to People.
After appearing with Billy Crystal in the 1995 romantic comedy Forget Paris, Winger took a six-year hiatus.
She relocated to New York City at that time and focused on marrying actor Arliss Howard in 1996. She is the stepmother of Sam, Howard’s son from a previous marriage, and they have a son together named Gideon Babe. Sam was born in 1997. She also has a second biological kid, Noah Hutton, who she raised from 1986 to 1990 while she was married to her first husband, Timothy Hutton.
Debra Winger’s husband, who also starred alongside her and Rosanna Arquette in the 2001 film Big Bad Love, not only acted in the film but also directed and produced it. Following this, Winger’s next project was the 2002 documentary Searching for Debra Winger. In the film, Arquette explores the reasons behind Winger’s brief departure from her career at its peak.
Winger continued to make her mark in Hollywood with notable roles in The Lovers (2017), Rachel Getting Married (2008), and Kajillionaire (2020), gaining significant attention for her performances. Rachel Getting Married also starred Anne Hathaway and showcased Winger’s incredible talent.
In 2021, Winger appeared in the anthology drama film With/In, Volume 2, in the segment titled “Her Own.” Her husband, who co-starred in the scene, also wrote and directed it.
Reflecting on her career, Winger shared her perspective on Hollywood: “I have no idea what Hollywood is. Now that I’m residing beneath the sign, I just giggle and stare at it. Hollywood is a place, but I don’t really think of it as such. There must be some in-crowds that I just don’t know about.”
We can’t imagine a Hollywood without the iconic Debra Winger, and we look forward to seeing her take home an Academy Award soon! What are your favorite Debra Winger movies?
