“I’ll Never Drink Like That Again”: Kathleen Turner Reflects on Career, Health, and Love with Michael Douglas

Kathleen Turner, the iconic Hollywood actress, is reflecting on her illustrious acting career with a smile on her face.

At 68 years old, she is now gracing television screens in the new series “White House Plumbers,” where she portrays Dita Beard, a foul-mouthed lobbyist involved in the infamous Watergate scandal of the early 1970s.

The HBO political drama revolves around E Howard Hunt and G Gordon Liddy, two members of a covert White House unit who inadvertently brought down President Richard Nixon.

According to Turner, Beard is a true survivor who blew the lid off the entire scandal and then tried various unconventional methods to evade the consequences.

She even resorted to faking heart attacks.

While the Watergate scandal dominated politics half a century ago, Turner believes that the show remains highly relevant today.

She expresses fascination with the phenomenon of politicians making blatant lies and expecting people to believe them, citing the ongoing Trump saga as a prime example.

On screen, Turner captivates audiences with her magnetic presence, exuding fierceness, boldness, and sultriness.

Her impeccable comic timing and husky, commanding voice only add to her allure.

One cannot help but relish her delivery of killer one-liners.

In Lawrence Kasdan’s 1981 film “Body Heat,” her debut role, she was powerfully seductive as the enigmatic Matty, coolly remarking to William Hurt’s character, “You’re not too smart, are you?

I like that in a man.”

From the beginning of her career, Turner made a conscious effort to avoid being typecast.

She seamlessly transitioned from playing a timid novelist in “Romancing the Stone” (1984) to a prim fashion designer moonlighting as a s** worker in “Crimes of Passion” and a time-traveling housewife in “Peggy Sue Got Married,” which earned her an Oscar nomination.

When asked about the common thread that ties her diverse roles together, Turner attributes it to her rage against the injustices perpetuated by white male privilege.

Her passion for equal pay, women’s rights, and healthcare remains as fervent today as it was 35 years ago.

Turner has always been vocal about her desires and unafraid to stand up for herself.

She recalls instances where she fought against unfavorable scripts and refused to perform n^de scenes that she deemed unnecessary.

This assertiveness led to a reputation for being difficult, but Turner dismisses such claims, insisting that anyone who has truly worked with her can attest otherwise.

Her parents initially disapproved of her choice to pursue acting, viewing it as an unsavory profession.

Born in Springfield, Missouri, Turner grew up in a diplomatic family, living in Cuba, Venezuela, and eventually settling in Britain during her teenage years.

Despite her father’s disapproval, she pursued acting while studying at the American School in London.

Tragically, her father passed away from a heart attack just a week before her graduation.

Turner reflects on his lack of understanding of the acting profession and equating it to being a streetwalker.

Throughout her career, Turner has faced numerous challenges, including a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that severely affects the joints and organs.

Despite the debilitating nature of her illness, she persevered and continued to work, choosing smaller, less demanding roles.

The steroids and pain medication she took caused weight gain, leading to harsh scrutiny from the press.

Rumors of alcoholism further tarnished her public image.

While Turner admits to using alcohol as a coping mechanism, she eventually sought help and went through rehab to overcome her abuse of alcohol.

Today, Turner is in remission from rheumatoid arthritis but still experiences occasional flare-ups.

She has found solace in theater, where she believes there are better opportunities for older women.

Additionally, she teaches acting at various universities and indulges in her hobbies, such as reading and hosting poker nights