Why Debra Winger quit Hollywood at age 40

SHE had three Oscar nominations to her name and was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood when, at age 40, Winger quit acting. Here’s why.

DEBRA Winger was one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood when she decided to turn her back on showbiz at age 40.

During her career she received three Best Actress Oscar nominations for her roles in An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Terms of Endearment (1984) and Shadowlands (1994), but Winger had a reputation for being difficult.

The actress famously clashed with Richard Gere on the set of An Officer and a Gentleman and refused to promote the movie once it was finished.

“I’m not sorry I did the film, because it brought a lot of joy to a lot of people,’’ Winger told The New York Times.

“But the making of it was treacherous. I don’t need much when I’m making a movie, but I do need respect, and I didn’t get it.’’

Winger once referred to Gere as a “brick wall” and told The Guardian in 2002, “I run into Richard Gere quite a lot and he half jokes: ‘Are you still saying terrible things about me?’

“We had a moment in our life which was not good, but everyone has to get it into perspective.”

Winger also had a frosty relationship with Shirley MacLaine on the set of Terms of Endearment.

Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment.

“I can’t deny that we fought,’’ she told NY Times.

“We challenged ourselves, and when we got tired of challenging ourselves, we challenged each other.”

MacLaine was more diplomatic about Winger, saying, “She marches to the beat of a different drummer than the rest of us”.

Winger was meant to star in the 1992 movie A League of Their Own but quit when she found out that Madonna had also been cast.

“You’re making an Elvis movie!” Winger told director Penny Marshall as she stormed off the set.

After starring alongside Billy Crystal in the 1995 film Forget Paris, a 40-year-old Debra Winger decided, “It’s time to go”.

Debra Winger and Billy Crystal in Forget Paris.

“The parts that were coming, I wasn’t interested in,” the now 62-year-old told People magazine.

“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.”

After she “pushed the pause button” on Hollywood, Winger married actor Arliss Howard and became a mum for the second time at age 42.

In 2001, six years after her disappearance from the big screen, Winger made a comeback in Big Bad Love which was directed by her husband.

From then until now, Winger has starred in a handful of films including Rachel Getting Married (2008) and The Choir (2014).

The offers are still flowing in for Winger but she has one requirement before saying yes to a project.

“I’m interested in what scares me,” she told People.

“I just try to scare myself most days. You’re really only here for a very short time, so I’m not really understanding the point of protecting something.”

Winger’s latest role is in the recently released film, The Lovers. You can watch the trailer below:

Originally published as Why Debra Winger quit Hollywood at age 40