Posted 3:32 PM by Blah blah

Problems of Aging Actresses (Society)

Sad article. Showtime film looks at the indignities women face in Hollywood (San Francisco Chronicle):
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Debra Winger was one of Hollywood's top stars in the early '80s, but she figured out pretty quickly that something was wrong in a business that sets impossible standards of youth and beauty.

During the making of "An Officer and a Gentleman," producer Don Simpson knocked on her door and handed her a manila envelope. Inside was a diuretic pill. "We watched the dailies," Simpson said in a low, I'm-doing-you-a-favor voice. "You look a little bloated."

It was that kind of humiliation that eventually drove the gifted actress out of the business. Unlike the rest of her peers -- who still fight for parts, go for Botox injections and struggle not to look their age -- Winger just walked away at 39.

Her departure, so rare among actresses, inspired a new documentary about female survival in the movie industry. Directed by actress Rosanna Arquette and airing at 8 tonight on Showtime, "Searching for Debra Winger" is a fascinating look at aging and adjustment in a high-stress, youth-worshiping profession."