Debra Winger, whose performances in the 1980’s are etched in our hearts, is stunning at 70

It remains one of the most enduring tableaus in cinematic history: a Naval Officer in pristine whites sweeps a factory worker off her feet, carrying her out of the doldrums of her daily grind and into the realm of legend. When Richard Gere’s Zack Mayo carried Debra Winger’s Paula out of that factory in An Officer and a Gentleman, he didn’t just create a box-office sensation; he established a benchmark for romance that left a generation of moviegoers longing to be in Winger’s shoes. Today, at 70, Winger remains as striking as she was during that 1982 peak. Recent glimpses of the actress via her Instagram reveal a woman aging with a grace that defies the typical Hollywood artifice, transitioning from her signature brunette locks to a natural, wavy silver. Yet, beyond the aesthetic, the industry is still dissecting the legacy of a woman who reached the pinnacle of stardom only to famously “push the pause button.”

The Meteoric Rise of a Reluctant Star

Winger’s trajectory began with a 1976 debut in Slumber Party ‘57, which quickly led to a high-profile stint on the Wonder Woman television series. Playing Drusilla, the younger sister to Lynda Carter’s Diana Prince, Winger was an immediate hit. However, in a move that would foreshadow her career-long quest for authenticity, she declined a larger role on the show, fearing the “typecasting” trap of the superhero genre.

The gamble paid off. The early 1980s saw Winger engage in a run of performances that few could match, earning her a string of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. She held her own against John Travolta—then at his post-Grease height—in Urban Cowboy (1980), before delivering the definitive romantic performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. She rounded out the trifecta in 1983’s Terms of Endearment, playing the ill-fated Emma alongside Shirley MacLaine in a performance that still draws tears four decades later.

The Friction Behind the Frame

While the onscreen chemistry was undeniable, the off-camera reality was often a theater of war. Winger’s reputation for being “difficult” was frequently just a byproduct of her uncompromising commitment to her craft.

In his memoir, An Actor and a Gentleman, co-star Louis Gossett Jr. noted that while the heat between Winger and Richard Gere was “terrific” on film, the actors stayed as far apart as possible once the cameras stopped rolling. Winger was reportedly unimpressed with Gere’s method, famously likening her leading man to “a brick wall” and referring to director Taylor Hackford as an “animal.”

The friction continued on the set of Terms of Endearment. The clash between Winger’s gritty, combat-boot-wearing persona and Shirley MacLaine’s eccentric, “old Hollywood” glamour became the stuff of industry legend. MacLaine recalled their first meeting—MacLaine in movie-star furs, Winger in a miniskirt and boots—and thinking, “Oh my goodness.” The tension culminated in a Best Actress showdown at the Oscars, where MacLaine took home the trophy, famously proclaiming, “I deserve this!”

The Great Disappearing Act

At the height of her powers, following 1995’s Forget Paris, Winger walked away. For six years, she traded the “Hollywood” sign for the streets of New York City, prioritizing her marriage to actor Arliss Howard and her role as a mother to sons Noah, Gideon, and stepson Sam.

The industry’s confusion over her departure was so profound it inspired Rosanna Arquette’s 2002 documentary, Searching for Debra Winger. But for Winger, the explanation was simple: she was bored.

“The parts that were coming, I wasn’t interested in,” Winger told People. “I needed to be challenged. My life challenged me more than the parts, so I dove into it fully.”

A Legacy of Intentionality

Winger eventually returned on her own terms, appearing in nuanced projects like Big Bad Love (directed by her husband), Rachel Getting Married (2008), and the 2020 indie gem Kajillionaire. In 2021, she continued her collaborative streak with Howard in the anthology film With/In.

Now living back in Los Angeles, Winger views the industry with a detached, veteran’s wit. “I don’t know what Hollywood is,” she recently remarked. “I’m living under the freaking sign now, and I just stare at it and laugh.”

While she may laugh at the “idea” of Hollywood, the industry’s respect for her remains absolute. As she enters her eighth decade, fans and peers alike continue to hold out hope for that elusive Academy Award—though one suspects Winger is far more interested in the next challenge life throws her way than another golden statue.