- Had a romance with controversial American hero and senator Bob Kerrey.
- Her first taste of fame was as the superpowered younger sister of Lynda Carter in the fantasy TV series WONDER WOMAN.
- The daughter of a Kosher frozen-food distributor, Winger dropped out of high school at 16 in order to join an Israeli kibbutz.
- Turned down the Glenn Close role in FATAL ATTRACTION.
- Upon returning to the U.S., she studied criminology and sociology at California State University, but before long she had dropped out and became a tour guide at the Magic Mountain amusement park.
- Helped Pat Welsh to perform ET's voice in "E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982).
- Turned down the role of Alex in FATAL ATTRACTION (1987)
- Was originally cast as Jane Craig in BROADCAST NEWS (1987)
- She and Shirley MacLaine were both nominated for 1983's Best Actress Oscar due to their performances in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983), which went to MacLaine. On her way to the podium, she reportedly whispered to Winger, Half of this belongs to you, to which Winger reportedly replied, I'll take half.
- She was originally going to appear in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992), but backed out when 'Madonna' was signed.
- Was nominated for Oscar for Best Actress in 1994 for SHADOWLAND.
- Was a member of the Israeli Army for three months while she lived there.
- Was seriously injured at an amusement park. When she recovered from a come, she was partially paralyzed and blinded in one eye for several months afterwards.
- Sister-in-law of actor/writer Jim Howard.
- Nominated for Best Actress Leading at BAFTA Awards for SHADOWLANDS (1994)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for A DANGEROUS WOMAN (1994)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1984)
- Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1983)
- Nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1983)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role at Golden Globe Awards for URBAN COWBOY (1981)
- Nominated for Best Newcomer at BAFTA Awards for URBAN COWBOY (1981)
- Nominated for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female at Golden Globe Awards for URBAN COWBOY (1981)
Quotes- "Inside every great marriage is a divorce waiting to happen."
- "It was very healthy for us to act out the divorce within our marriage. It really was. It felt like therapy."
- "I push for what I think can be the best, and if I feel they're not going for the best, it kills me."
- "I don't believe in careers. I believe in work. I'm not interested in some 'big picture that would be really good for me.'"
- "I make decisions for my life, not the other way around. Besides, when you have a kid, you must weigh everything against time with your child."
- "I was never afraid of failure after that because, I think, coming that close to death you get kissed. With the years, the actual experience of course fades, but the flavor of it doesn't. I just had a real sense of what choice do I have but to live fully?"
- "I have a thing with the camera. The lens is unconditional. It doesn't judge you."
Awards- Tokyo International Film Festival: Best Actress Award, A DANGEROUS WOMAN (1994)
- National Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Actress, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1984)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Female Star of the Year (1983)
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