Fans of iconic ’80s cinema were treated to a rare sight when Kathleen Turner made a stylish public appearance in New York City this week.
At the red-carpet premiere of The Roses—a modern remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses —the 71-year-old screen legend turned heads in a sleek black dress, simple sandals, and a brace-supported arm, walking with dignity and grace despite a visible physical struggle.
Turner’s presence held special significance: she starred in the original The War of the Roses as Barbara Rose opposite MIchael Douglas, brought to life by Danny DeVito’s direction.
Of course, Turner and Douglas had already set the screen alight with their magnetic chemistry in 1984’s Romancing the Stone and its sequel Jewel of the Nile.
Her stunning appearance also called to mind Turner’s heyday as one of 1980s cinema’s most magnetic femmes fatales—especially her standout turns in Body Heat and Peggy Sue Got Married.
Now, in this rare public outing, she reminded fans why she remains an enduring screen icon—resilient, captivating, and full of timeless charisma.
Fans of iconic ’80s cinema were treated to a rare sight when Kathleen Turner made a stylish public appearance in New York City this week; (seen in 1983)
Turner was spotted at the red-carpet premiere of The Roses—a modern remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses starring Turner and Michael Douglas (above)
Turner wasn’t just another pretty face in Hollywood — she exploded onto the scene in 1981 with Body Heat, a sultry neo-noir thriller that cemented her as one of cinema’s most unforgettable femmes fatales.
She reigned throughout the ’80s with a string of hits — Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile (1985), and of course, Prizzi’s Honor (1985) alongside Jack Nicholson.
Turner showed she wasn’t just about sex appeal — she had sharp comic timing and commanding depth.
Back in 2021, Turner reflected on the undeniable spark that fueled her chemistry with longtime co-star Douglas in Romancing the Stone.
‘Oh, I was yearning, babe, but he was still married [to first wife Diandra Luker] … although they were separated, and so I thought there was hope for me,’ she confessed to People.
Turner revealed that the unresolved attraction only heightened their work together.
‘It was that wonderful sexual tension, you know?’ she said.
‘When you really, really know you want somebody — and I’m saying it went both ways — and you can’t have them. It’s just lovely.’
She reigned throughout the ’80s with a string of hits — Romancing the Stone (pictured), The Jewel of the Nile, and of course, Prizzi’s Honor (1985) alongside Jack Nicholson.
Turner wasn’t just another pretty face in Hollywood — she exploded onto the scene in 1981 with Body Heat, a sultry neo-noir thriller that cemented her as one of cinema’s most unforgettable femmes fatales
That tension lit up the screen and helped make her pairing with Douglas one of the decade’s most beloved duos.
Their collaborations culminated in the dark satire The War of the Roses (1989), which showcased Turner’s fearless range.
She proved equally adept at heartfelt drama, earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986).
By the early ’90s, Turner had conquered stage and screen, later earning Tony nominations for her work on Broadway.
In the years that followed her Hollywood peak, Turner’s reign as a leading lady took a sharp downturn, as she appeared in fewer and fewer box office hits.
Behind the scenes, her life was drastically altered by a painful battle with rheumatoid arthritis.
The illness, along with medications and chemotherapy, changed her appearance and left her in constant pain — struggles that eventually led her to lean on alcohol for relief.
She later admitted that while she never drank on the job, she relied on booze to cope.
Douglas and Turner in The War of the Roses
She proved equally adept at heartfelt drama, earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
And she didn’t shy away from TV either — Turner had an iconic guest role on Friends in the early 2000s
‘It was incredibly stupid. I had this thing in my head where I thought: ‘I’m not taking pain pills – they are addictive and dangerous.’ But it was OK to have that second or third vodka,’ she confessed to The Guardian.
Over time, the drinking spiraled until she checked herself into rehab to take control.
A moment of stark realization drove her to change: ‘I thought: ‘I am wasting my entire day with my daughter, with my husband, because I’d close myself down and drink.’
Though drug therapy helped, her rheumatoid arthritis continued to progress for nearly a decade.
Then, thanks to new treatments, it eventually went into remission — finally giving Turner the chance to reclaim her career and return more regularly to film and television.
And she didn’t shy away from TV either — Turner had an iconic guest role on Friends in the early 2000s.
She played Chandler Bing’s parent, the flamboyant Helena Handbasket, instantly standing out with her commanding presence and husky voice.
The appearance not only drew laughs but also introduced Turner’s Hollywood legend to an entirely new generation of fans.
At the red-carpet premiere of The Roses, the 71-year-old screen legend turned heads in a sleek black dress, simple sandals, and a brace-supported arm, walking with dignity and grace despite a visible physical struggle
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman flanked the gorgeous legend
Decades later, Turner is still Hollywood royalty — the woman who could smolder, sting, and steal every scene
Offscreen, she faced health struggles, including severe rheumatoid arthritis that threatened her mobility and career.
Yet her resilience only added to her legend.
Her extensive film credits also include The Man With Two Brains, The Accidental Tourist, V.I. Warshawski (1991), Naked In New York (1993), Serial Mom (1994), Moonlight And Valentino (1995), The Real Blonde (1997), The Virgin Suicides (1999), and Dumb and Dumber To (2014).
She has also performed in such popular TV series as The Simpsons (1994), Law & Order (2006), Nip/Tuck (2006), Californication (2009), Family Guy (2017), and The Kominsky Method (2019 and 2021).
Most recently, she starred in the satirical political drama series White House Plumbers (2023) with Woody Harrelson and Justin Theorux.
Decades later, Turner is still Hollywood royalty — the woman who could smolder, sting, and steal every scene.
