Kathleen Turner Remembers "Body Heat" and the Launch of Her Career | Amanpour and Company

Kathleen Turner is a familiar face from movies like "Romancing the Stone" and "Body Heat," but it’s her sultry voice that took on a life of its own, famously breathing life into the cartoon character Jessica Rabbit. Now she’s putting it all out there in her one-woman show "Kathleen Turner: Finding My Voice." Turner speaks with Christiane about mixing story with song to recount her life and career.
Originally aired on December 14, 2021.
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@kimmaclachlan3565]

I LOVE seeing a natural, older woman. Thanks Kathleen from an older, natural woman! I've always appreciated your work & talent.

[@theraven6836]

I remember Body Heat when it came out. The ads gave the impression that it was little more than soft porn when in reality it was a modern film noir. To this day it is still one of my favorite films and one that I delight in introducing to others.

[@do9138]

One of the best neo-noir films. I think it's up there with Blade Runner and Chinatown.

[@christinet6336]

I love her. So talented, genuine, and confident in her own right.

[@TheCaptainKim]

Love the film, the voice and her acting. What's not to like?

[@harlow743]

Her inflated body

[@carls.1000]

I'll just go ahead and address the elephant in the room. Turner's appearance is different due to the steroids she has to take. Turner has had debilitating Rheumatoid arthritis for many years. She is a Hollywood legend and one of the greatest actors of all time...then and now!

[@roberttschaefer]

Thanks for this information. I was wondering what the story was, she didn’t merely look older, but transformed physically. Yes… steroids and other medications will do that to the body.

[@mojoe3012]

🤔An actor ? Oh I get it. They is a transgender. It’s 2022. That is ok with me😎

[@carls.1000]

@@mojoe3012 It has been the preferred term by both genders for decades. Update your Karen journal.

[@RickMartinYouTube]

thanks for explaining - I was caught off guard when I first saw the YT thumbnail

[@tltinatl]

@@mojoe3012 Steroids like Prednisone, to treat an autoimmune disorder, not androgenic steroids. People have been using the term "actor" instead of actress, just like "flight attendant" instead of stewardess and "server" instead of waiter/waitress for about 30 years now. It isn't a new, politically correct change having anything to do with gender. It's just not necessary to give a job a different name because a woman is doing it. For example, men and women who study medicine or culinary arts are all referred to as doctors or chefs. Anyone who drives a bus is a bus driver, anyone who writes is a writer and anyone who works in management is a manager.

[@jeffersonwaters9970]

God bless her...War of the Roses....Serial Mom......love Kathleen

[@RickMartinYouTube]

loved War of the Roses, too as well as Romancing the Stone and Body Heat.

[@HS2ND]

Body Heat is such an iconic film (made more so by Kathleen’s presence)….Hollywood does not make films like that any more.

[@QuinnPrice]

She's still as awesome as ever. Great interview.

[@THEchiQ]

Wow! She looks amazing, and I’ve always loved her voice.

[@harlow743]

ARE YOU CRAZY !!!

[@nanny287]

I love this film. She is beautiful, brainy, and beguiling. She still has it, and that incredible voice commands your attention. I hope she continues to mentor and act, as she is a great model for mature female actresses. You can just tell that she doesn’t take any BS. Love it.❤

[@bobfesterman3137]

To this day, Body Heat is a slam dunk killer movie. The 2 last scenes with Katherine on the beach and William Hurt in prison are fabulous. The music is also beautifully apropos.

[@RickMartinYouTube]

a favorite movie back in the early 80's

[@TheKCBBQ]

Lovely hearing from an actress who has character

[@hsd287]

Body heat was a good movie RIP William Hurt u were a great guy ❤

[@gibyob5951]

I didn’t realize she has such a sexy voice. Being old and a little bit over weight makes her less intimidating. Young and beautiful (she was surely beautiful) can make a woman intimidating to many people. But not me, I appreciate beauty and appreciate aging too.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

Her voice is deeper than mine! Body heat… what a classic.

[@reidb18]

I watched body heat last night, Kathleen was so great in it. Still a lovely lady full of talent.

[@splashesin8]

Kathleen❣️ Christiane❣️

[@lynnyhen]

Kathleen Turner was brilliant in that film!

[@timages]

...unrecognizable, wow, didn't expect that.

[@justinwhite6787]

Love KT so Much!!! Thrilled to have seen her on Broadway as well. Legend!

[@benhaith9056]

Thaank YOU Kathleen!❤

[@do9138]

I think it says something that Turner was gorgeous in Body Heat and also as Chandler Bing's father on Friends.

[@cutl00senc]

They don’t make women like KT anymore….sadly

[@TimeIdle]

I love Body Heat. Seen it multiple times. Is there a 4K version?

[@Jinka1950]

She was fabulous... just watched it again. after countless times.. yes, she is ill and must take treatments for it..... more power to her....

[@christinedotson2600]

Body heat is a movie that shows a life lesson don't ever be desperate to the point of murder because you don't have to kill to get something out of life and if you are in a bad marriage get out of it , it's not worth you suffering darling ❤❤

[@emilywilson7308]

Serial Mom was my favorite! My husband used to say I was just like her!😂

[@trishemerald2487]

Elizabeth Holmes only wishes she had that magnificent voice.

[@benhaynes4409]

She NEEDS to play Granny Goodness in a Superman or DC project

[@peggycarroll-elwood8025]

Kathleen Turner is a great actress! I love her in Jewel of the Nile the next one after romancing the stone w Michael dougkas

[@mesomemore97]

She is real. Nothing fake or put on. She's a good ole gal. Jus say n.

[@int53185]

RIP William Hurt.

[@micio_solo]

fantasic brilliant perfect performance full of passion desire amd lust from Kathleen Turner,her best ever perfomance!!!!!!!

[@bacchuslax7967]

Always loved “Prizzis Honor”

[@visualizecreate2530]

Just watched this again (07/06/2023). Great movie. I once saw her walking on the Upper Westside of Manhattan with her then husband (I believe he was a real estate guy). He looked at me because he saw I recognized her but as a New Yorker I didn’t say anything and he saw that. She was oblivious.

[@friendofdorothy9376]

Two things I remember from the movie was their bathtub of ice due to the torrid sex they had…and all those chimes moving on that patio/deck.

[@appukuttan6848]

Holding his dick

[@bluecollarlit]

Yes, the movie was very atmospheric! I love it so much! "You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." ...

[@melsteffano6189]

She sounds like Richard Crenna

[@martinobrien7110]

That Voice .

[@Rhythmicons]

Was she typecast in the end? A beautiful woman who not going to be defeated under any circumstances? WotR I'm looking at you.

[@marcopolo4218]

Michael Douglas hat sich bestimmt gedacht , gottseidank habe ich sie damals nicht geheiratet 🤓🤡 ich vermute das ist Alkohol und Drogen

[@FLAC2023]

Love this woman, I thought she was a goddess when I was a teenager

[@rockrecordreport7136]

She's only a strict 90-day diet and some cardio exercise away from being a TKO even now. She still has the looks, just a little out of shape. She's a survivor anyway and left her mark that endures.

[@jweber6740]

Ever tried cardio with rheumatoid arthritis? Get real - she's an authentic person.

[@rockrecordreport7136]

@@jweber6740 Ever tried a strict diet, no didn't think so.

[@gamtngirl3655]

This was too hard to watch.

[@RickMartinYouTube]

yes, I understand your point

[@geneziogenezio3299]

WHAT HAPPENED TO KATHLEEN TURNER'S VOICE, FACE AND BODY? WHAT TYPE OF DISEASE DID SHE HAVE?

[@doncallangher6177]

Don't use caps. Its rude. Remember, karma has an odd way of slapping you in the face, many years hence.

[@nemo-i1e]

Weird as if some other entire person is impersonating Kathleen Turner in the same manner martin short does jimminy glic. The voice sounds manly.

[@JB-tr6nu]

Classy Lady

[@TheDragonSmasher]

The role was not "sexualized". Would she say the same of Hurt's role? No, because female nudity and lust is a taboo. It's a sexy noir pic, nothing more nothing less. No need to twist some narrative of exploitation to a fine movie that nobody felt unsafe making

[@AngelEagle44]

Great see Kathleen - I wish she would lose the weight. She's such an intelligent woman!

[@dawnzimmerman6818]

The steroids such a prednisone often needed for the horrid illness of RA, causes moon shaped face and other things like weight gain The newer drugs help more but also have potentially treacherous side effects such as lymphoma & other types of cancer. That’s why I admire her so. 💜

[@tammyslaughter9587]

@@dawnzimmerman6818 Some of the newer drugs used for RA such as Rituximab interestingly is also a first line treatment for people with many types of lymphoma, and other than eliminating the body’s ability to develop antibodies against Covid after vaccination there really isn’t negative side effects.

[@tammyslaughter9587]

@@MariaLuise1984 I don’t have to get on the internet and do a quick search, I have actually had several Rituximab treatments at the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson for stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I have not only had personal experiences for years with Rituximab but have had first hand one -on -one conversations with oncologist/hematologist at the Mayo concerning side effects and benefits of Rituximab. After initial first treatments because of the murine/human chimeric antibodies, which can be corrected with a higher dose of Benadryl, steroids, and a much slower IV drip there were zero negative side effects except for the lack of necessary antibodies needed for protection against Covid, which is ok because of Rituximab I’m now in a temporary partial remission.

[@tammyslaughter9587]

@@MariaLuise1984 Thank you! There is potential side effects to an aspirin or even natural supplements. I would never say there is no “potential “ side effects to anything. Again even an aspirin bottle has a long list of potential side effects. Of course the website is going to have a long list of potential side effects, because of liability, all drugs do! I’m not being disingenuous, I gave my own personal experience of having Rituxan many times. I am also in a very large lymphoma support group who many have done very well with Rituximab although anyone can have an adverse or allergic reaction to anything. Of course they should consult their own doctors, that’s obvious!! Especially since it’s given intravenously and through orders, and it’s extremely expensive, so a physician has to really work with insurance companies for the use of it. It’s not like a physician can just hand you a prescription and you go have it filled and take it! No one should take any type of medication just by doing a quick search on the internet or reading a KZbin comment. Good luck to you in the future as well, and have a happy, healthy New Year!

[@thehair1474]

Looks like her addictions caught up with her.

[@AppallingTrashFilms]

She had rheumatoid arthritis.

[@thehair1474]

@@AppallingTrashFilms plus alcoholism. Big time.

[@AppallingTrashFilms]

@@thehair1474 Yeah, to deal with the pain.

[@thehair1474]

@@AppallingTrashFilms she was one nasty drunk BEFORE RA. Long before.