Kathleen Turner's inspiring battle with an autoimmune condition

Kathleen Turner's career has ensured her a place of honor in the collective memory of a whole generation. Her energetic and often sensual roles, able to showcase her incredible charisma and talent, have established her as a true icon of the '80s.

The movie that launched her to Hollywood stardom was undoubtedly 'Body Heat,' in which she played Matty Walker, a charming woman married to a wealthy businessman.

Follow us to discover more celebrity news

And how could we forget another milestone in her filmography, the famous dark comedy 'The War of the Roses'? Alongside Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner once again showcased her incredible skills on set.

Over the years, these two major successes have been accompanied by others that have contributed to her legacy, such as 'Romancing the Stone' and 'Prizzi's Honor,' thanks to which she won two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Thanks to her role in 'Peggy Sue Got Married' in 1986, another thrill came for the actress: an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

However, behind the scenes of success and away from the spotlight, Kathleen Turner has had to face personal challenges in her daily life that have truly tested her character.

In 1992, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, causing intense pain and inflammation and significantly limiting the normal performance of daily activities. This grim diagnosis marked the beginning of a long and exhausting journey of pain and disease management for the actress.

The harsh diagnosis of the disease came when the actress was just 39 years old, at the peak of her career. According to the Huffington Post, some doctors predicted she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

The intense pain plagued her every day, and even simple actions like walking or holding a glass of water had become extremely difficult and painful for the actress.

Follow us to discover more celebrity news

It was on the set where the actress began to experience the first pains. She thought she had accidentally twisted her foot, but, after a few days, the pain returned, this time affecting her left hand up to the elbow.

Doctors were not sure at first. Several specialists provided conflicting diagnoses, ranging from chronic joint dislocation to sclerosis. Finally, additional tests led to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, which offered her a slightly more positive outlook.

Faced with the diagnosis, Kathleen Turner, driven by her determination, flatly refused to accept the prognosis that condemned her to a life in a wheelchair, as had been predicted, and sought treatments and support that would allow her to manage the pain and continue her career.

In the meanwhile, the actress had to face moments of great suffering, reaching a point in her physical state where she was completely unable to get out of bed.

The physical pain was compounded by an added difficulty: to prevent the disease from affecting her career, she had decided to keep it a secret, unleashing the malice of the leading tabloids.

According to HuffPost, in fact, magazines at the time claimed that the actress had problems with alcohol and that she was about to end her life, while Kathleen tried to laugh it off, saying that it is almost better to be seen as having an addiction than a disability.

Trapped in her despair, the actress found hope again in a new treatment proposed by a doctor. Indeed, according to Today, the teatment has come a long way in 30 years, with Turner originally pumped full of steroids that came with unpleasant side effects.

In addition to the therapy, gymnastics, swimming, and her incredible willpower helped Kathleen Turner to recover and keep the effects of rheumatoid arthritis under control.

Kathleen Turner is a highly respected figure both inside and outside the entertainment world. Today, she is an ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood and Child Hope USA.

Follow us to discover more celebrity news