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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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?
Girl Doesn’t Invite Poor Granny to Fancy Wedding, Opens Her Old Rusty Gift Only after Her Death — Story of the Day
Jessica never appreciated her grandmother Donna and she would often mock her. In fact, when she got married, she didn’t even invite the poor woman. But the young lady regretted her decision when she opened her grandma’s wedding gift.
Jessica was born and raised in New York with business-oriented parents. Since she was a single child, she’d always been the center of attraction in her family, and her parents and grandmother had never let any of her requests go unanswered.
However, Jessica never appreciated their efforts and took them for granted. In fact, when she visited Donna’s house in Texas during her summer vacations, she was constantly annoyed with her, and when Donna’s health began to fail her, and she moved to New York, things only got worse.
Donna gifted an old chest to Jessica as a wedding present | Photo: Shutterstock
One day, Donna decided to accompany Jessica to school because her parents had to leave urgently for work. Donna held Jessica’s hand at the crossing before the school because she was afraid to cross the road, but instead of standing by her grandmother, Jessica lashed out at her.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped. “My friends will mock me if they see me coming to school with a poor old lady like you, so cross the road by yourself.”
Donna’s eyes welled up with tears. She swallowed her tears and struggled to cross the street that day, but Jessica wasn’t done mocking her.
Upon reaching the school, she didn’t even let Donna enter the campus. “You don’t have to come in, Grandma,” Jessica remarked. “You’ve already bothered me enough for the day, so go back home and ask mom to pick me up.”
The frail 80-year-old woman somehow hid her tears at her granddaughter’s remarks and strolled back home, hoping that things would change over time, but unfortunately, that did not happen.
Donna was hurt by Jessica’s words | Photo: Pexels
When Jessica turned 25, she announced her engagement to Edward. He was the son of her father’s business partner and was quite wealthy.
The families had planned for the wedding to take place a month after the engagement at the best wedding venue in New York. So when Jessica was putting together the guest list, she made sure Donna wasn’t on it.
“I have added everyone except Grandma because she won’t be coming,” Jessica said while they were discussing the wedding guests. “And I don’t want to talk about it any further.”
“But, honey,” her father explained, “she’s your grandmother. We can’t just abandon her like that!”
“He’s right, Jess,” her mother continued. “You can’t be so rude to her.”
“See guys, it’s MY wedding. Edward and I have waited for this moment for so long, and I don’t want to ruin it. Grandma is not up to our standard; let’s accept that, okay. So, SHE’S NOT COMING. Anyway, she’s living off us, so I don’t know how you guys will talk it out with her but make this clear to her,” Jessica said and walked away.
When everyone sat down for breakfast the following day, Jessica’s parents were still debating how to tell Donna about the conversation they had with their daughter the night before.
Donna was not invited to Jessica’s wedding | Photo: Pexels
But Donna had overhead everything, so before anyone else said anything, she spoke up. “I’m sorry, everyone,” she began. “I know Jessica’s wedding is next month, but I don’t think I’ll be able to attend.”
“That’s sad, Grandma,” Jessica responded, trying to hide her delight at her grandmother’s words. “But it’s okay, I understand.”
“I’m sure you do, honey,” Donna remarked. “I wish you two a happy married life!” Then the poor woman got up and left.
Jessica’s wedding took place a month later, and everything went exactly as she had planned. The wedding hall was beautiful, and most importantly, Donna wasn’t there. Jessica was thrilled, to say the least. But the next day, when she answered the door, she saw Donna standing there with an old chest in her hand.
“What on earth are you doing here?” Jessica exploded. “I told my in-laws you weren’t feeling well, that’s why you didn’t show up to the wedding. Do you want to expose me as a liar in front of them? Is this some sort of retaliation?”
“No, honey,” Donna clarified. “I just came to say hello and to give you your wedding gift. I could have parceled it to you, but I wanted to give it to you personally.”
Donna showed up at Jessica’s doorstep the next day | Photo: Pexels
“There was no need for that, and I don’t need anything from you, so just go!” Jessica chastised. But then Edward came in and interrupted them. “What a delightful surprise, Mrs. Matthews! I heard you were ill. Are you feeling any better now?”
“Of course I am!” Donna cracked a grin. “I just came to say hello to you two. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the wedding.”
“Oh, it’s fine!” Edward explained. “Please come in.”
Edward escorted Donna inside, served her tea, and later drove her home. Jessica spoke politely to Donna in front of everyone and accepted her gift, but when she left, she threw it in the corner of her room and forgot about it.
In fact, she never contacted Donna after that day, and a few weeks later, she left with Edward for their honeymoon in Las Vegas. When she returned, though, she learned Donna had passed away. But Jessica was hardly concerned and was instead preoccupied with deciding which brand to wear to the funeral.
Finally, after two hours of perusing her outfits, she decided on a Gucci dress. She went on to look for matching earrings when her attention was drawn to the chest Donna had given her.
Donna had left a letter for Jessica | Photo: Pexels
Oh, poor thing! Jessica said as she glanced at the rusty box. She could never match our standards. Did she really think I’d accept this disgusting chest as a gift?
However, when she opened it, her expression changed. The chest included an expensive diamond pendant, a photo album, and a note addressed to her on the top. Jessica unfolded the letter and began to read it.
“I’m sorry I could never provide you with the things you loved, Jessica,” it began. “But trust me, I love you a lot. I wanted to be the best grandmother to you, but fate had other plans for us.
“Anyway, I wish you a happy married life, honey. Edward is a wonderful man. Please accept this small gift from Grandma as a wedding present. And don’t be mad at me because I didn’t ask your parents for money. I used my savings and decided to give you something you’d like. I hope you won’t be ashamed of me this time. Love, Grandma Donna.”
Jessica’s eyes welled up as she finished reading the letter. She cautiously opened the pendant, and when she looked closer, she noticed a childhood photo of her with her grandma cuddling. They looked sweet and happy. The woman also looked through all her childhood pics in the big old photo album.
Jessica found a pendant inside the chest | Photo: Pexels
Jessica couldn’t fight back the tears at this point. “I’m so sorry, grandma. I always hated you, but all you did was love me. I’m sorry!” She burst out crying.
Later that day, when everyone left after the funeral, she sat beside her grandmother’s grave, clutching the old scarf that she always wore.
“I’m sorry, grandma,” she sobbed, holding her gift. “That I was never a granddaughter to you. I hope you’re happy wherever you are. I know nothing I do now will change anything, but I just want you to know how much I adore you!”
What can we learn from this story?
- Act before it’s too late. Jessica realized her grandmother’s love for her, but it was too late by then.
- Learn to be kind and respectful. Unlike Jessica, who did nothing but disrespect her grandmother all her life.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who follows the little boy who takes leftovers from her luxury restaurant every day and learns a shocking truth in the process.
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