In a classic love story, Naval Officer Zack Mayo embraced factory worker Paula and whisked her away from her job, making fans everywhere long to be the stunning Debra Winger.
The iconic moment in the romantic film An Officer and a Gentleman—where Richard Gere portrayed Officer Zack Mayo, the dashing hero in his navy uniform—set the standard for romantic tales for those who love to daydream.
Sharing the screen with some of Hollywood’s most sought-after men, Debra Winger became the envy of many.
Now at 70, Winger remains as stunning as ever. Over the last few years, she has shared photos of herself on Instagram, initially showcasing her brown hair and now embracing her natural wavy gray.
Winger’s first leading role came in the 1976 film Slumber Party ’57, which opened the door for her to join the popular TV series Wonder Woman (1979), where she portrayed Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Although she was invited to appear more frequently, she turned it down, worried about being typecast in that role.
Looking back, she has no regrets about that choice, as the early ’80s turned out to be a fruitful time for the emerging star.
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 incredible dance skills in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1988); she portrayed Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and played Emma in Terms of Endearment (1983), a young woman facing terminal illness 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, the reasons behind her departure continue to be a topic of speculation.
Many of these rumors center around the conflicts that Winger experienced with her fellow actors.
While fans adored the charming Gere, reports suggest that Winger had reached her limit with him during filming.
An excerpt from the book “An Actor and a Gentleman” by co-star Louis Gossett Jr., who portrayed Sgt. Emil Foley, was published by ABC News: “The chemistry they shared on screen was fantastic, but off camera, it was a completely different situation. They couldn’t have been more distant from one another.”
Gossett further asserts that Winger was not impressed with Gere’s performance, noting that she once referred to him as “a brick wall.” Additionally, she had a poor opinion of the film’s director, Taylor Hackford, whom she labeled as “animal.”
It wasn’t just the cast of that movie that got on her nerves.
Winger, embodying a free spirit both in her life and as Emma, had her share of clashes with the prolific MacLaine, who is known for her glamour, eccentricity, and extensive experience.
Their initial encounter laid the groundwork for their dynamic.
“To understand how my character would feel, I wore all my leftover movie-star fur coats,” MacLaine shared in an interview with People. “There was Debra in combat boots and a miniskirt… I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’”
According to People, “Indeed, the set became the breeding ground for Hollywood’s most cherished rumors. Winger sought top billing. One allegedly slugged the other.”
Subsequently, the two women found themselves competing against each other at the Oscars, both nominated for best actress.
MacLaine, who took home the award, declared in her acceptance speech, “I deserve this!”
Despite the rumors, Winger maintains that she “hit the pause button” on her Hollywood career for personal, not professional, reasons.
“The upcoming parts didn’t pique my interest. I had either experienced that or felt it already. I craved a challenge. My life presented more challenges than those parts, 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 hiatus of six years.
During that period, she relocated to New York City and focused on her relationship with actor Arliss Howard, whom she wed in 1996. Together, they have a son named Gideon Babe, born in 1997, and she is also a stepmother to Sam, Howard’s son from a previous marriage. Additionally, she has another biological child, Noah Hutton, whom she had while married to her first husband, Timothy Hutton (from 1986 to 1990).
She made her comeback in the 2001 film Big Bad Love, which was directed and produced by her husband, who also starred alongside Winger and Rosanna Arquette. Arquette’s next project was the 2002 film Searching for Debra Winger, a documentary where she explores the reasons behind Winger’s temporary departure from her career at its peak.
Winger regained some traction with roles in Rachel Getting Married (2008) alongside Anne Hathaway, the 2017 romantic comedy The Lovers, and the crime-comedy Kajillionaire (2020).
In 2021, she appeared in With/In, Volume two of the anthology drama film, specifically in the segment 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’m currently living right under the iconic sign, and I just look at it and laugh. Los Angeles is a location, but the concept of Hollywood doesn’t truly resonate with 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 really hope she gets to bring home an Academy Award soon! What are your favorite movies featuring Winger?
