In an unforgettable moment of cinematic romance, Naval Officer Zack Mayo, portrayed by Richard Gere, swept factory worker Paula, played by Debra Winger, off her feet in a scene that has captivated hearts ever since. As he carried her away from her mundane life, the powerful image left fans everywhere dreaming they could be in her shoes.
The legendary scene from An Officer and a Gentleman has become the ultimate symbol of love and longing, setting the standard for romantic dramas. With Zack Mayo’s charm and devotion, the film captured the hearts of audiences, making it the gold standard for love stories that continue to spark daydreams and fantasies around the world.
Debra Winger, once the envy of many for acting alongside Hollywood’s hottest men, continues to captivate audiences with her timeless beauty at the age of 69. In recent years, she has shared glimpses of her life on Instagram, showcasing her natural beauty with a stunning transition from her signature brown locks to soft, wavy gray hair.
Her journey to stardom began in 1976 with her first starring role in Slumber Party ‘57, which quickly led to a part in the hit TV series Wonder Woman (1979). As Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s iconic Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Winger was poised for even greater fame. However, she turned down further appearances on the show, concerned about being typecast, a decision she would never regret.
By the early ’80s, Winger’s career was flourishing, and she became one of the most sought-after actresses of the era, carving out a legacy of diverse and memorable roles.
At the peak of her early career, Debra Winger was showered with accolades from both the Academy and the Golden Globes for her performances in three iconic films of the 1980s, solidifying her as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
In 1980, she starred alongside John Travolta in Urban Cowboy, just as he was captivating audiences with his unforgettable roles in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). She then earned widespread acclaim for her role as Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), where she shared the screen with Richard Gere. In 1983, Winger delivered a heart-wrenching performance in Terms of Endearment, portraying Emma, a young woman battling cancer and navigating her complex relationship with her overbearing mother, played by Shirley MacLaine.
Despite her soaring success, Winger, always fiercely independent, took a brief hiatus from Hollywood, stepping away from the spotlight to reclaim balance in her life. Decades later, the reasons behind her decision remain a topic of speculation, but there’s no denying that her choice to step back only added to the mystique surrounding her legendary career.
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 like, she referred to as “animal.”
It wasn’t only people on that film that ruffled her feathers.
The beginning of Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine’s relationship on the set of Terms of Endearment was far from ordinary. MacLaine recalled in an interview with People that, while preparing for her role, she wore her “leftover movie-star fur coats,” only to be met by Winger, who appeared in combat boots and a miniskirt. MacLaine, taken aback, thought, “Oh my goodness.”
Their dynamic quickly became the talk of Hollywood, with People reporting that the set was rife with rumors, including a claim that Winger demanded top billing. Some reports even suggested that tensions between the two women reached a boiling point, with one allegedly slugging the other.
The rivalry between the two reached its peak at the Oscars when they were both nominated for Best Actress. MacLaine took home the trophy for her role in Terms of Endearment, and in her acceptance speech, she proclaimed, “I deserve this!”
Despite the rumors and tension surrounding their on-set relationship, Winger has always maintained that her decision to step away from Hollywood was driven by personal, rather than professional, reasons. She pushed the pause button on her career to focus on her own life, allowing her to recharge before returning to acting on her own terms.
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After feeling unsatisfied with the roles she was being offered, Debra Winger decided to take a step back from Hollywood. “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,” she told People. “My life challenged me more than the parts, so I dove into it fully.”
Following her role in the 1995 rom-com Forget Paris with Billy Crystal, Winger took a six-year hiatus from acting. During that time, she relocated to New York City and focused on her personal life, especially her relationship with actor Arliss Howard, whom she married in 1996. Together, they had a son, Gideon Babe, born in 1997. Winger also became a stepmother to Sam, Howard’s son from a previous marriage, and had another biological child, Noah Hutton, from her first marriage to actor Timothy Hutton (1986–1990).
Winger made her return to the screen in 2001 with Big Bad Love, a film directed and produced by her husband, Arliss Howard, who also co-starred alongside her and Rosanna Arquette. The documentary Searching for Debra Winger (2002), directed by Arquette, delves into the reasons behind Winger’s temporary hiatus from Hollywood at the height of her career.
In the years following, Winger slowly re-entered the industry with notable roles, including Rachel Getting Married (2008) alongside Anne Hathaway, the 2017 rom-com The Lovers, and the 2020 crime-comedy Kajillionaire. In 2021, she appeared in With/In, Volume two of the anthology film series, in the segment “Her Own,” written and directed by her husband.
When asked about Hollywood, Winger remarked, “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.” She added with a laugh, “…although there must be some in-crowds that I just don’t know about.”
Debra Winger’s films have certainly left a lasting impact on Hollywood! From her unforgettable roles in An Officer and a Gentleman to her stirring performance in Terms of Endearment, she’s captivated audiences with her depth and range. Whether it’s the tough-as-nails Paula in Urban Cowboy or her quiet strength in Rachel Getting Married, Winger always brings something uniquely special to each role.
If I had to choose, Terms of Endearment is one of her most powerful performances, while An Officer and a Gentleman will forever be iconic for the unforgettable romance between her and Richard Gere. How about you—do you have any favorites from her incredible career?
