In a classic love story, Naval Officer Zack Mayo embraced factory worker Paula, whisking her away from her job and making viewers everywhere long to be the stunning Debra Winger.
This iconic moment from the romantic film An Officer and a Gentleman, featuring Richard Gere as the dashing Officer Zack Mayo in his crisp navy uniform, set the standard for romantic tales that captivated the imaginations of fans.
Sharing the screen with some of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men, Debra Winger was the object of admiration for many.
At 69, Winger remains stunning as ever. Over the last few years, she has shared images of herself on Instagram, initially showcasing her brown hair and now embracing her natural wavy gray locks.
Winger’s breakthrough role came in the 1976 film Slumber Party ’57, which opened the door for her to join the popular TV series Wonder Woman (1979) as Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s character, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Although she was invited to appear more frequently, Winger chose to decline, fearing she might be typecast in that role.
Looking back, she has no regrets about that choice, as the early ’80s proved to be a fruitful time for her burgeoning career.
At the peak of her early career, she garnered multiple nominations from both the Academy and the Golden Globes for her roles in three legendary films from the 1980s.
In 1980, she appeared in Urban Cowboy alongside John Travolta, who was captivating audiences with his impressive dance skills in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). She also portrayed Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and played Emma in Terms of Endearment (1983), a young woman battling illness while dealing with her overbearing mother, Aurora, portrayed by Shirley MacLaine.
Despite her remarkable achievements, Winger decided to take a brief break from Hollywood, and even after more than forty years since her rise to fame, questions about her departure continue to linger.
Many of the rumors center around the conflicts Winger experienced with her fellow cast members.
While fans adored the charming Gere, reports suggest that Winger grew tired of him during filming.
An excerpt from the book “An Actor and a Gentleman” by co-star Louis Gossett Jr., who portrayed Sgt. Emil Foley, reveals: “The chemistry they had on screen was fantastic, but off-camera, it was a completely different situation. They couldn’t have been more distant from one another.”
Gossett also mentions that Winger had a low opinion of Gere’s acting, recalling that she once referred to him as “a brick wall.” Additionally, she had a negative view of the film’s director, Taylor Hackford, whom she labeled as “animal.”
It wasn’t just the cast of that film that got under her skin.
Winger, known for her free-spirited nature both in her life and as Emma, had a notable clash with the iconic MacLaine, a glamorous and eccentric veteran of the industry.
Their initial encounter laid the groundwork for their dynamic.
“To understand my character, I wore all my leftover movie-star fur coats,” MacLaine shared in a People interview. “Then there was Debra, showing up in combat boots and a miniskirt… I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’”
According to People, “The set became a hotbed for some of Hollywood’s juiciest rumors. Winger sought top billing, and at one point, one of them reportedly hit the other.”
Later, both actresses found themselves competing against each other at the Oscars, where they were nominated for best actress.
After winning the award, MacLaine declared in her acceptance speech, “I deserve this!”
Despite the gossip, Winger maintains that she “hit the pause button” on her Hollywood career for personal, not professional, reasons.
I wasn’t interested in the upcoming roles; I had either already experienced them or felt them before. I craved a challenge, and my life presented more challenges than those roles, so I fully immersed myself in it,” Winger shared with People.
After her role in the 1995 romantic comedy Forget Paris alongside Billy Crystal, Winger took a six-year hiatus.
During that time, she relocated to New York City and focused on her relationship with actor Arliss Howard, whom she married in 1996. They welcomed a son, Gideon Babe, in 1997, and she also became a stepmother to Sam, Howard’s son from a previous marriage. Additionally, she has another biological child, Noah Hutton, whom she had during her first marriage to Timothy Hutton from 1986 to 1990.
Winger made her comeback in the 2001 film Big Bad Love, which was directed and produced by her husband, who also starred alongside her and Rosanna Arquette. Arquette’s next project was the 2002 documentary Searching for Debra Winger, where she explores the reasons behind Winger’s temporary departure from her flourishing career.
Winger regained some traction with roles in Rachel Getting Married (2008) featuring Anne Hathaway, the 2017 romantic comedy The Lovers, and the 2020 crime-comedy Kajillionaire.
In 2021, she appeared in With/In, Volume two of the anthology drama film, specifically in the segment titled Her Own, which was written and directed by her husband, who also co-stars in it.
“I’m not sure what Hollywood really is. I live right under the iconic sign now, and I just look at it and laugh. Los Angeles is a location, but the concept of Hollywood doesn’t hold much meaning for me,” Winger remarked, adding, “…though there must be some exclusive circles that I’m simply unaware of.”
It’s hard to picture Hollywood without Debra Winger, and we’re eagerly anticipating the day she brings home an Academy Award! What are your top picks among her films?