Dеbrа Wingеr, whоsе реrfоrmаnсеs in thе 1980’s аrе еtсhеd in оur hеаrts, is stunning аt 67

In a timeless tale of romance, Naval Officer Zack Mayo swept factory worker Paula into his arms and carried her from her workplace, leaving fans everywhere wishing they were the beautiful Debra Winger.

The legendary scene in the romantic drama an Officer and a Gentleman–where Richard Gere played Officer Zack Mayo, the handsome hero in navy whites–became the benchmark of love stories for daydreaming fans.

Actress Debra Winger poses backstage during the 54th Academy Awards at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles,California. (Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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.

Wikipedia Commons / The Gersh Agency

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.

John Travolta and Debra Winger smile on set of the Paramount Pictures movie ‘Urban Cowboy” circa 1980. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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 likе, she referred to as “animal.”

It wasn’t only people on that film that ruffled her feathers.

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Winger, a free spirit in real life and in her role as Emma, also clashed with the prolific MacLaine, a glamourous, 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.

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“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 аbаndоned 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.”

Debra Winger and Gideon Babe Ruth Howard attend Netflix’s The Pale Blue Eye New York Tastemaker Screening at The Metrograph on November 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Netflix)

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?

I Was Excited to Meet My Daughter’s Fiancé, but One Look at Him Changed Everything and I Knew This Wedding Couldn’t Happen — Story of the Day

I had been waiting for months to meet my daughter’s fiancé, imagining the perfect introduction. But when I opened the door and saw him, my excitement vanished. This wasn’t what I expected. I knew, in that moment, this wedding couldn’t happen. I had to stop it—no matter what it took.

I had been running around the kitchen all day like a madwoman because today was important—Kira was finally bringing her fiancé and his parents over for dinner.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I had dreamed of this moment for months, picturing how we’d sit together, laughing over stories, bonding as future in-laws.

But for some reason, Kira had avoided it, always coming up with excuses. “They’re busy, Mom.” “Another time, I promise.” It didn’t make sense. What could be so hard about introducing us?

But now, she had no choice. Marcus had proposed. It was official. And that meant I was meeting him—and his family—whether she liked it or not.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Bradley sat at the table, flipping through the newspaper, watching me with amusement.

“Sit down for a minute, Jessica,” he kept saying.

I waved him off. “I don’t have time to sit! The roast is in the oven, the table’s not set, and the flowers—where are the flowers?”

Just as I started setting the food on the table, the doorbell rang. My heart pounded. This was it.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Oh God, they’re here!” I shouted, yanking off my apron and tossing it onto the counter.

Bradley barely looked up from his chair. “I’ll get it,” he said, calm as ever.

“No!” I rushed to his side. “We have to greet them together!”

Bradley sighed but stood up. I grabbed his arm and straightened my dress, forcing the brightest smile I could manage.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Can I open it now?” he asked.

I nodded.

Bradley pulled the door open. There stood Kira, glowing with excitement, her fiancé Marcus beside her, and behind them, his parents. My smile froze. My breath caught. My heart sank.

They were Black.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I blinked, trying to process what I saw. My mind spun. This wasn’t what I had expected. I glanced at Bradley. His face had gone stiff.

“Mom?” Kira’s voice snapped me back to reality. “Are you going to invite our guests inside?”

“Yes, of course,” I said quickly, my voice strained. I stepped aside, letting them in.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I led them to the dining table, but my hands trembled. My thoughts raced. I needed a moment.

“Excuse me,” I said. “I just need to bring out a few more dishes. Kira, come help me.” I turned to Bradley. “You too.”

Kira hesitated but followed me. Bradley trailed behind.

As soon as the kitchen door swung shut, I turned to Kira.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Is there something you forgot to tell us?”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your fiancé is Black!” The words burst out before I could stop them.

“Yes, Mom. I know.” Her voice was calm, but her eyes hardened.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Why didn’t you tell us?” I demanded.

“Because I knew how you’d react,” she said, crossing her arms. “Just give Marcus a chance. He’s a good man, and his family is wonderful.”

Bradley’s voice cut through the air. “My daughter is not marrying a Black man.”

“That’s not your decision to make!” Kira shot back. Her voice shook, but she stood firm. “Can you two just act normal for one night?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Without another word, she stormed out.

Bradley and I carried the dishes to the table in silence. No one spoke much during dinner, though Kira and Marcus did their best to keep the conversation going. The air felt heavy. Every bite tasted like nothing.

After dinner, Kira pulled out her childhood photo albums. She laughed as she showed Marcus old pictures. I watched them from across the room, my stomach tight.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Beside me, Marcus’s mother, Betty, leaned in. “What do you think of them as a couple?”

I hesitated. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not racist,” I said, lowering my voice. “I just think Kira would be better off with someone… more like her.”

Betty nodded. “I completely agree. I don’t think they’re a good match either. Marcus would be better off with someone who understands our… culture.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I exhaled, relieved. “You’re reading my mind.”

Betty straightened. “We can’t let this wedding happen.”

“No, we can’t,” I agreed.

From that day on, Betty and I formed an unspoken alliance.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

We both wanted what was best for our children—or at least, what we believed was best.

We picked fights over everything. Betty criticized Kira’s dress choice, saying it didn’t fit their traditions.

I argued with Marcus over the menu, insisting Kira wouldn’t be happy with his family’s preferences.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When it came to the church, Betty and I nearly came to blows. She wanted the ceremony at their family church, I wanted it at ours. We disagreed on music, guest lists, even the seating arrangement.

But none of it worked. The more we pushed, the stronger Kira and Marcus became. Instead of seeing their differences, they only clung to each other harder.

So, we had to be smarter.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I arranged a “harmless” lunch for Kira with my colleague’s son, a polite young man with a stable career and good family values.

Meanwhile, Betty set up a meeting between Marcus and a woman from their church, someone she believed would be a “better fit.”

Of course, we never called them dates. That would have raised suspicion. We just needed them to show up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

That evening, we gathered at Betty and Rod’s house. Bradley and I arrived early, and while Betty and I whispered about our plan, I noticed something odd—Bradley and Rod were sitting in front of the TV, laughing over beers.

When I got Bradley alone, I hissed, “What’s going on?”

He shrugged. “What? We root for the same team. Rod’s a good guy.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I am,” he said, taking another sip.

I heard the front door swing open and slam shut. Heavy footsteps echoed through the house.

My heart pounded. I rushed into the living room, where Betty was already standing, her arms crossed, her face tense.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Kira and Marcus stood in front of us, their eyes burning with anger.

“Are you out of your minds?!” Marcus yelled, his voice shaking.

Kira turned to me, her face red. “Our wedding is in a week, and you’re setting me up on a date?”

I opened my mouth, but Betty spoke first. “We just wanted what’s best for you.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Kira let out a bitter laugh. “Best for me? You think lying to me, tricking me, humiliating me is what’s best?”

I took a deep breath. “You could both find someone more… suitable,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

Kira’s whole body stiffened. “I don’t care what color his skin is! I love Marcus. I want to be with him.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Marcus stepped forward. “And I love Kira. I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

I looked at Betty. She looked at me. We both stood there, silent.

“We were only doing what we thought was right,” I said finally.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Exactly,” Betty agreed, nodding.

Kira shook her head, an empty laugh escaping her lips. “You keep saying how different we are, how we shouldn’t be together. But look at you two! You’re exactly the same. Stubborn, manipulative, always scheming.” She turned to me, her voice sharp. “Mom, you spend more time with Betty than your own friends.”

I opened my mouth to respond. “You don’t understand—”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Kira cut me off. “No, you don’t understand! I’m marrying Marcus. Whether you like it or not. Accept it.” She turned, glancing at the couch where Dad sat with Rod, watching the game, laughing like nothing was wrong. “Even Dad is sitting here drinking beer with Rod. If he can accept it, why can’t you?”

I swallowed hard.

“If you can’t accept it, don’t come to the wedding,” Kira said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“That goes for you too,” Marcus told Betty, his voice firm.

Then, without another word, they turned and walked out the door.

The silence that followed was thick. No one spoke. No one moved. A moment later, Bradley let out a deep sigh, turned off the TV, and stood up. “Time to go,” he muttered.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I saw the look in his eyes. Disappointment. Not in Kira. In me.

That week, I called Kira. I texted. No response. The silence stretched.

On the night of the rehearsal dinner, I walked into the bedroom and found Bradley tying his tie.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To the rehearsal dinner,” he said, straightening his collar.

“You can’t go!” I snapped.

He turned to me. His voice was calm, but his eyes were firm. “My only daughter is getting married, and I’m not missing it.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Then, he walked out the door.

I stood there, staring at the empty space he left behind. My chest felt tight.

Finally, I gave in. I found myself outside the restaurant, watching through the window. Kira and Marcus moved through the guests, glowing, smiling, happy.

A familiar voice spoke beside me. “You couldn’t sit at home either, huh?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I turned. Betty stood next to me, arms crossed.

“I’ve been trying to catch them to apologize,” she admitted. “But they’re too busy.”

I sighed. “We should wait. No need to ruin their evening now.”

Betty exhaled sharply. “But we have to apologize. I want to be allowed to see my future grandson.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I crossed my arms. “Granddaughter. In our family, girls are always born first.”

Betty scoffed. “Not in ours. It’s always boys.”

For the first time in weeks, I laughed. We were already arguing over grandchildren who didn’t even exist yet.

I looked at her. She looked at me.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, we’re going to have a rough time together, mother-in-law,” I said, shaking my head.

“Tell me about it,” Betty muttered.

Then, she sighed, watching Kira and Marcus. “But as long as they’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

I nodded, my eyes fixed on my daughter. She looked happier than ever.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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