Hollywood icon Kathleen Turner delighted fans with a rare red carpet appearance this week at the New York premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man at the Director's Guild Theater. The 71-year-old star of Romancing the Stone looked radiant, smiling warmly and greeting guests while leaning on a walking cane.
Dressed in a flowing patterned blouse under a black sleeveless vest and classic black trousers, Turner's shoulder-length grey hair was styled in soft waves. She appeared in high spirits, joking with photographers and playfully pointing at cameras. Her appearance comes despite health challenges that have limited her public outings in recent years.
Turner has been open about her battle with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diagnosed in the early 1990s. In an interview with Vulture, she described the severity: 'It’s hard to understand the level of pain that this disease brings.' She noted that the illness struck during her late 30s, a time when Hollywood considered her a sexually appealing leading lady, and autoimmune diseases were poorly understood.
Despite using a cane, Turner appeared relaxed and cheerful. Dr Marissa Lassere, a board-certified rheumatologist, explained that mobility aids are often used intermittently by people with RA to protect joints and reduce pain, allowing participation in social events. Modern treatments, including biologic therapies, have been life-changing for many patients.
Turner remains beloved for her on-screen chemistry with Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Reflecting on their spark in a 2021 interview with People, she said: 'Oh, I was yearning, babe... It was that wonderful sexual tension... when you really, really know you want somebody, and you can’t have them.'
