Kathleen Turner, 71, Makes Rare Public Appearance (Photos)
Kathleen Turner is one of the most legendary actresses of the 1980s. She charmed audiences in Peggy Sue Got Married, her chemistry with Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone was hotter than any steamy paperback, and she proved that two dimensions are all you need by voicing Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
But on Aug. 25, the 71-year-old Turner made a rare public appearance, joining Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman at the New York City premiere of The Roses, a remake of 1989’s The War of the Roses.
The original film reunited Turner, Douglas and Danny DeVito from Romancing the Stone and its sequel, The Jewel of the Nile. The War of the Roses was one of the biggest films of the year, both a critical and commercial success. Turner’s performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. The movie primed Turner for greatness…
…so why does it feel like she disappeared?
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In 2018, Turner spoke with Vulture about how “rheumatoid arthritis hit in my late 30s — the last of my years in which Hollywood would consider me a sexually appealing leading lady…. At that time, there was very little public knowledge about autoimmune diseases, so my illness was a source of bad mystery.”
The autoimmune condition causes pain, swelling and inflammation in joints, and can affect the skin, eyes, lungs, and heart, according to the Mayo Clinic. Turner suffered through incredible pain, where just touching her right wrist “would make me want to scream.”
At the time, the only treatment was “massive amounts of steroids,” according to Turner, which gave her “massive side effects.” Some medications changed her looks.
“The hardest part was that so much of my confidence was based on my physicality. If I didn’t have that, who was I?” Turner told Vulture. She vowed to get that confidence back, saying, “You work with what you have, as best you can. That’s what I’ve done.”
While Turner’s condition slowed her career, she never entirely stopped. She appeared in films like Serial Mom and The Virgin Suicides in the ‘90s, and Marley & Me and Monster House in the 2000s. She has also had roles on television series like Californication, The Kominsky Method, and Mom.
Most of all, Kathleen Turner continues to be a phenomenal voice actor. You’ll be able to hear her as Benjamin, a donkey, in the upcoming animated adaptation of Animal Farm.
Kathleen Turner attends “The Roses” Premiere August 25, 2025 in New York City.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Kathleen Turner and Olivia Colman attend “The Roses” Premiere on August 25, 2025 in New York City.
Kathleen Turner attends the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations with Kathleen Turner career retrospective at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on December 13, 2024 in New York City.