Kathleen Turner rose to fame in the 1980s as a result of her strength and beauty; many consider her to be one of Hollywood’s most beautiful actors.
Over the years, the actress has faced numerous challenging and favorable situations, and her perseverance has carried her through them both.Kathleen Turner was raised in a home with four other children, despite her difficult past.
She and her siblings were raised in both Venezuela and London. When she was a little girl, she tragically witnessed her father’s sudden death when he was mowing the lawn of their Hampstead house.
A month following his passing, the foreign service ejected Kathleen and her family from the United Kingdom. In Springfield, Missouri, where everyone was still grieving for their father and their previous home, Turner relocated her family.
Finally, Tuner felt at peace after moving to New York to pursue an adult acting career. Her major break came when she was hired as the femme fatale in the 1981 film “Body Heat,” despite her success on stage.
Turner was offered the opportunity to co-star with Michael Douglas in the well-known “Romancing the Stone” three years after sharing the screen with William Hurt. During filming, Douglas was going through a difficult divorce from his wife Diandra, and he started to feel a connection with Turner.
We were intensely flirting and exchanging intense, yearning glances as we were falling in love. Kathleen remarked, “Then Diandra came down and reminded me he was still married.”
In the end, she wed Jay Weiss, the movie’s real estate developer, in 1984. Soon after, the couple welcomed their only daughter together. October 14, 1987, was Rachel Ann Weiss’s birthday.
Regretfully, when the couple started parenting their daughter, their relationship started to fall apart.
“I would demand extended weekends or additional passes from the film studios so that my spouse and daughter could visit me. However, I felt bad since there was a feeling in the marriage that all the work was on his end. It terminated for a few reasons, including that. I began to experience extreme oppression. Kathleen said, “I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, you’ve done very well out of being married to me also.’”
When Turner played Martha in the 2005 Broadway production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” their marital problems came to a head. Turner became incredibly busy performing in eight shows a week, and it seemed Weiss didn’t want to spend any time with her at home.
During that time, Turner was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Martha, and the two got along well.
The actress was nominated for an Oscar in 1987 for her role in “Peggy Sue Got Married.” She went on to produce several films in the 1980s, including three blockbusters starring Michael Douglas.
But in the 1990s, Kathleen experienced a medical setback when her neck locked, making it impossible for her to turn her head. Additionally, the swelling in her hands prevented her from using them.
Kathleen stated, “It was crippling.” When something is gone, even for a little while, you stop taking it for granted. What I took for granted was my athleticism, my capacity for forceful movement, and my freedom to move however I pleased. I had a genuine identity crisis when I lost that: “Who am I if I can’t do this?”
She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which is characterized by swelling of the lining of our joints, and this was the tragic reason for her circumstances. Managing chronic pain caused by this illness can be difficult.
Kathleen remarked, “When it was first diagnosed, I was terrified because they said I’d be in a wheelchair.” “I reasoned that I couldn’t act if I couldn’t move. Not everything I want to do is act. I was destined for this. It’s present throughout my entire life. The most terrifying aspect was the thought of not being able to accomplish it, together with the ongoing discomfort.
Kathleen took drugs and alcohol to ease her pain. Her habit of drinking vodka led her to faint during dress rehearsals for plays such as the 2002 stage version of “The Graduate,” even if they made her job simpler.
The actress really checked herself into rehab after the show concluded, and it was found that she was not an alcoholic. Instead, she was told to just remember to take more notes on when she took her medications and any unfavorable side effects.
The actress now does pilates and yoga to help her stay flexible and manage her discomfort.
The famous person began to focus more intently on her career in theater while also improving her pain management. As she grew older, she largely returned to her roots, even taking the lead in a stage production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in her forties, even though she still worked sometimes in film and television.
“It was a little foresight on my part of which I am justly proud, because I knew that the better roles as I got older would be in theatre, which is absolutely true,” Kathleen remarked.
By focusing on the theater, the actress has had more time to pursue her passions, which include working for Planned Parenthood of America and volunteering for Amnesty International.
For most of her life, Turner has been an ardent feminist who has devoted her life to helping other women. Gloria Feldt’s 2008 biography of the actress, Send Yourself Roses, captures her thoughts perfectly.
As women, we are the first generation to achieve financial independence. Women are returning to the workforce, stated Kathleen. They’re redefining who they are. I believed I could contribute to that, even more. It therefore contains a great deal of philosophy as well as my personal beliefs.
What are your thoughts on Kathleen Turner’s difficult yet fruitful journey? Tell us in the comments below!
YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW STUNNING SHANIA TWAIN LOOKS TODAY!
Shania Twain, the best-selling female artist in country music history, and one of the top-selling music artists of all time, will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Known as the “Queen of Country Pop,” Shania became a global superstar in the 1990s. But not many people know about the struggles she faced along the way. Before her big break, Shania grew up in poverty, often going hungry. Then, at just 22, a heartbreaking tragedy changed her life and gave her new responsibilities.
Shania was born as Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, on August 28, 1965. Later, she changed her last name to Twain when her mother, Sharon, married a man named Jerry Twain.
Shania Twain’s biological father wasn’t around when she was growing up, so she never publicly called him her dad. Instead, her stepfather, Jerry, stepped in and took care of Shania and her two sisters, even legally adopting them.
Shania once said, “My father (Jerry) went out of his way to raise three daughters that weren’t even his. For me to acknowledge another man as my father, a man who was never there for me as a father, who wasn’t the one who struggled every day to put food on our table, would have hurt him terribly.”
Shania’s childhood wasn’t easy. She grew up in poverty in the rural town of Timmins, Canada. Her stepfather Jerry, who was a full-blooded Ojibway, worked hard but didn’t earn much money, making it difficult to provide for the family.
Shania Twain and her sisters often didn’t have enough to eat growing up. Sometimes, the only food they had was a dish called “goulash,” which was just dry bread with boiled milk and brown sugar. During the cold Canadian winters, Shania had to wear bread bags on her feet because her family couldn’t afford proper boots.
Even though things were tough, Shania never told anyone about their situation. She was afraid that if people knew how bad things were, the authorities might separate her family.
Her home life was also unstable. The marriage between her mother, Sharon, and her stepfather, Jerry, had its problems. At one point, Shania convinced her mom to leave Jerry, and they all went to a homeless shelter in Toronto. But when Shania was 16, her mother decided to go back to Jerry and try to make things work again.
Because of her difficult childhood, Shania said she lived in “survivor mode” even as an adult. She felt she couldn’t rely on her parents to protect her or be steady caregivers.
When Shania was eight years old, she started singing in bars to help pay the bills. Even though it was a risky thing for such a young girl, she could make up to $20 a night, which was a big help for her struggling family. Even though she didn’t like doing it, the money was essential for them to get by.
Shania Twain’s love for music helped her get through tough times. She said in *Shania Twain: The Biography*, “My deepest passion was music, and it helped. There were moments when I thought, ‘I hate this.’ I hated going into bars and being around drunks. But I loved the music, and so I survived.”
Performing in rural bars and retirement homes in Canada helped Shania improve her stage presence and explore her musical talent. It wasn’t long before she was ready for bigger opportunities.
At 13, Shania got her big break by performing on *The Tommy Hunter Show*, a famous country music variety show on CBC Television. Hosted by Tommy Hunter, known as “Canada’s Country Gentleman,” the show gave Shania a great chance to show off her skills as a country singer.
In the mid-1980s, Shania was still a struggling singer-songwriter trying to make it in the music world. She had joined her first band, Longshot, when she was 16, but eventually moved to Toronto at 21 to further pursue her dreams in music.
As Shania Twain continued performing, more people began to notice her incredible talent and beauty. One of those people was famous country singer Mary Bailey. When she saw Shania perform in Sudbury, Ontario, she was amazed.
“I saw this little girl up on stage with a guitar, and it absolutely blew me away,” Bailey said. Shania performed Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Bailey thought Shania’s voice was powerful and full of emotion, reminding her of singer Tanya Tucker. She knew right away that Shania had the potential to be a star.
Bailey, who later became Shania’s manager, recalled, “She sang a few songs that she had written, and I thought to myself, this kid is like nineteen years old—where does she get this? This is from a person who’s lived sixty years.”
In 1987, Shania Twain was on the verge of breaking through as a country artist. She had the talent and the opportunities, and Nashville was ready for her. But then, a tragedy changed everything.
On the afternoon of November 1, 1987, Shania’s parents, Jerry and Sharon, were driving on a remote logging road to a work site. Sadly, their car collided with a truck carrying timber. Both Jerry and Sharon died in the crash, leaving behind their two sons and three daughters.
Shania was devastated when she heard the news. She described the feeling as being like a tree with strong roots for 30 years, only to have someone try to cut her down.
Instead of focusing on her music career, Shania decided to return to her hometown of Timmins. She took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, who were 13, 14, and 18 at the time
Shania Twain said that the time after her parents’ deaths was very hard, but it also helped her grow up and become more mature. She took on the responsibility of raising her younger siblings by herself, making sure they had the support they needed.
Later, Shania and her siblings moved to Huntsville, Ontario. There, she found a job as a singer and dancer at the Deerhurst Resort. At that time, Shania thought about giving up on music because she needed to focus on taking care of her family. She said in 1995, “I thought, my family comes first. I have to take care of them. I didn’t even think of my future…. I’m lucky I got the job at Deerhurst, because it was music. I didn’t know where I was going to go from there.”
While working at Deerhurst, Shania continued to develop her skills as an entertainer. She made a demo tape of her songs, which caught the attention of a Mercury Nashville Records executive. This led to Shania being invited to Nashville, where she released her first album, *Shania Twain*, in 1993. Although the album didn’t become a big hit, it received positive reviews from critics.
One person who really liked Shania Twain’s music was South African record producer Mutt Lange. He was so impressed that he contacted Shania to see if he could help produce and write songs with her.
After meeting at Nashville’s Fan Fair in June 1993, they started working together closely and quickly became very close. Just six months later, they got married. Even though Shania was more than ten years younger than Mutt, they had a special connection. Together, they wrote many hit songs that helped make Shania a superstar, including the albums *The Woman in Me* (1995) and *Come On Over* (1997).
By 2007, The Woman in Me had sold more than 12 million copies in the United States. At the time of its release it was a huge success, turning Shania Twain into a star overnight.
Shania Twain said in 1997, “We just took a chance and followed our instincts, and it worked out. I think there was something on that album for everybody.”
Usually, Shania wrote the lyrics for their songs, and Mutt Lange created the music. While working on the album *Come On Over*, Mutt added some rock-n-roll elements, inspired by his past work with bands like AC/DC and Def Leppard.
The result of combining country and rock music was a huge success, with the album selling 40 million copies worldwide. The 1997 album included some of Shania’s biggest hits, like “You’re Still The One” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
Shania Twain said, “In my mind, I was just being myself, and that was the great thing — to just be myself and let my personality come through in the music.”
In the late 1990s, “Shaniamania” took America by storm. Today, *Come On Over* is the ninth best-selling album of any kind in the US and the top-selling country album ever.
On August 12, 2001, Shania and Mutt Lange welcomed a son. They named him Eja (pronounced “Asia”) and, according to the media, Shania delivered her son at a hospital in Switzerland, without any “media fanfare”.
Shania Twain’s down-to-earth charm was evident when she kept her pregnancy private. She didn’t share any details about her baby, Eja, when he was born.
However, a few years later, Shania went through a very public divorce, and some unflattering details about her marriage were revealed in the media.
Before the divorce, there had been many rumors about problems in Shania’s marriage. In 1997, she addressed these rumors and denied that they were getting divorced.
She said, “Mutt and I are an unlikely pair. There’s been talk in the tabloids that we’re divorcing, but we are very happy. We love each other in every way. We have a great creative relationship and a great personal relationship. We feel as strong as ever—and ‘Still the One’ is sort of my own personal song about marriage.”
In 2008, though, Shania and her husband separated. The reason? Lange had engaged in an affair with Shania’s best friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Shania was, of course, completely heartbroken. She said she cried constantly and took five baths a day. According to the country star, she was ”ready to die”.
“I’ll be honest: when your husband leaves you, and falls into the arms of your close friend, your self-esteem can really suffer,” she said.
Shania and Marie-Anne were really good friends who had first met when the latter was hired as an assistant and interpreter for Mutt Lange. After finding out about the affair, Shania confronted her so-called friend.
”I just told her that she was a bad person – that’s all I could get out!’
‘When I left her, I thought, “You’re such a wimp, you coward!”‘
Things took an unexpected turn for Shania Twain when she found love again.
In 2011, Shania married businessman Frédéric Thiébaud, who was once married to her former friend Marie-Anne. They connected through their shared heartbreak and got married in Puerto Rico, with a small ceremony attended by about 40 close friends and family.
Shania told the Daily Mail, “I don’t take any day for granted anymore. Fred has given me a new lease on love.”
Shania Twain has said that she found “a true friend and a dear gentleman” in her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud. She describes their 10+ years together as a true gift. When they started dating, Fred surprised her with romantic trips, like flying her to a Swiss glacier and renting out a whole movie theater just for her.
Shania said, “It’s twisted. So beautifully twisted.” Fred added, “To express my love, words are not enough. I’m more in love with her every day.”
Shania lives in Corseaux, Switzerland, with her husband. She is known for being very private and rarely gives interviews.
In recent years, Shania has released several albums with mixed success. Right now, she is performing in Las Vegas, where she showcases her award-winning career with highlights from her iconic videos and global tours.
She has also tried her luck in the film industry, appearing in several movies over the years. In 2019, she starred alongside John Travolta in Trading Paint, and in 2020 portrayed the mother of singer Jeremy Camp in the autobiographical movie I Still Believe.
Though Shania does not appear as often on the top lists today, she has left a massive mark in popular culture. Once the reigning queen of country music, she helped influence artists such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.
Carrie Underwood said in 2016, “I think we were all definitely influenced by Shania, even if we don’t realize it. Her music was so different and revolutionary at the time. She definitely paved the way for a lot of us.”
Shania was also known for her stylish outfits and supermodel looks. In 2009, readers of Hello! magazine voted her the No. 1 Most Beautiful Canadian. Shania has shared some of her secrets for staying youthful, including being a vegetarian, eating lots of raw food, and meditating daily.
She said, “A happy heart comes first, then the happy face.”
Shania Twain, now 59, talked about how she’s handling aging. She admitted to being a bit insecure about her changing body. She said, “I’m letting ‘the girls’ hang loose under my sweat clothes around the house. When someone comes to the door, I cross my arms under them for support.”
In a 2020 interview on the LadyGang podcast, she mentioned, “Aging is a battle you can’t win. I just started accepting it and stepping away from fights I can’t win.”
Shania added that focusing on aging was taking up too much of her energy and space in her life. “I’ve got songs to write. I’m not gonna sit around,” she said.
Are you also a fan of Shania Twain? I think she’s still gorgeous and more important – a really great woman. Shania is an example for us all. Love and just admire her!
If you are inspired by this amazing woman, forward this story to everyone you know on Facebook!
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