Fans couldn’t help but wish they were the captivating Debra Winger when Naval Officer Zack Mayo swept factory worker Paula off her feet and carried her out of her workplace in a timeless romantic gesture.
For many dreamers, the unforgettable scene from An Officer and a Gentleman, featuring Richard Gere as the charming and dashing Officer Zack Mayo in his crisp naval whites, set the benchmark for romance on screen.
Winger, admired for her beauty and her work with some of Hollywood’s most handsome leading men, remains stunning at 69. Over the years, she has shared photos on Instagram, showcasing her transformation from brunette locks to gracefully wavy gray hair.
Her early career took off when she portrayed Drusilla, the younger sister of Lynda Carter’s Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, in the popular Wonder Woman TV series in 1979. Despite being invited to appear more frequently, Winger declined, concerned about being typecast. The decision proved wise as her career flourished in the early 1980s.
Winger earned multiple Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her roles in three iconic films of the decade. She starred opposite John Travolta in Urban Cowboy (1980), played Paula in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), and delivered a heartfelt performance as Emma, a young woman with a controlling mother (played by Shirley MacLaine), in Terms of Endearment (1983).
At the height of her success, Winger took a break from acting, sparking speculation that still lingers nearly 40 years later. Much of the speculation centers on her reported tensions with co-stars.
On the set of An Officer and a Gentleman, it’s said Winger found Gere’s acting unimpressive, allegedly referring to him as “a brick wall.” According to co-star Louis Gossett Jr., who played Sgt. Emil Foley, while their on-screen chemistry was electric, the two kept their distance off-camera. Winger also reportedly had issues with director Taylor Hackford, referring to him as “animal.”
Her difficulties extended beyond that set. On Terms of Endearment, Winger’s free-spirited nature clashed with Shirley MacLaine’s polished and seasoned demeanor. Their relationship began on a rocky note, with MacLaine recalling their first meeting: “I was wearing my leftover movie-star fur coats for character inspiration, and Debra showed up in a miniskirt and combat boots. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’”
Rumors of tensions between the two actresses only grew, with claims of physical altercations and a rivalry that culminated in their competing for the Best Actress Oscar. MacLaine won the award and famously declared, “I deserve this!” in her acceptance speech.
Despite such rumors, Winger has maintained that her decision to “press the pause button” on her career was personal rather than professional. “I wasn’t drawn to the roles coming my way. I had either already experienced them or needed a new challenge. Life itself challenged me more than any role could,” she told People.
Following her role in Forget Paris (1995) alongside Billy Crystal, Winger stepped away from acting for six years. During this time, she relocated to New York City and focused on her family. In 1996, she married actor Arliss Howard. Together, they have a son, Gideon Babe, born in 1997. She is also stepmother to Howard’s son from a previous marriage, Sam, and mother to Noah Hutton, her son from her first marriage to Timothy Hutton.
Winger returned to the screen with notable roles in Rachel Getting Married (2008), The Lovers (2017), and Kajillionaire (2020). In 2021, she appeared in With/In: Volume 2, directed by her husband, who also co-starred in the segment.
Reflecting on her career and life in Hollywood, Winger said, “I have no idea what Hollywood is. Now that I live under the sign, I laugh whenever I look at it. Los Angeles is a place, but the idea of Hollywood doesn’t exist for me.”
We hope to see Debra Winger win an Academy Award in the future—Hollywood wouldn’t be the same without her! What’s your favorite Debra Winger film?