Thursday, September 12, 2013

Today's Blind Items - Lost In The Booze

It was not all that long ago that this actress was A list. She had her own movies and her name was above the titles and she had that smile that made everyone smile around her and a voice that is still recognizable. You probably have not thought of her in a few years. Whatever happened to her you might ask? Not even a decade ago she was A list and now she is not even a tumbleweed guesting on a NCIS episode. Nothing. Nada. Vanished.

Our actress always has had a big drinking problem. That light hearted laugh covered up for some big drinking issues and also because she was trying to keep her sexuality secret from the public. She always played straight women. Tough, but straight. She was afraid her career would crash and burn if anyone spilled the secret. Sometimes she would have sex with a guy who she knew would tell the tale to tabloids or spread it around to other guys just so she could keep her secret going a little longer.

More and more drinking led to bigger problems. Liver damage and then almost killing someone while drunk led her to escaping even more. Since that day she almost killed someone she has basically disappeared from any sort of possible public encounter and definitely nothing in film or television.

96 comments:

MontanaMarriott said...

"That voice" leads me to think Joey Lauren Adams but she was never A list. I'll keep digging

CamColty said...

The last thing jennifer tily did was in 2001.

Unknown said...

Kathleen Turner sorta fits

WBotW said...

Rosie Perez?

Unknown said...

Kathleen Turner came to mind. Although iirc she has a "medical problem" right?

Peter said...

Wouldn't it be front page news if you almost kill someone? If you show up to hospital drunk after being in a wreck, the cops would be notified the same as an overdose or gunshot.. me thinks.

DewieTheBear said...

Kathleen Turner had health and alcohol issues that took a major toll on her body (but not voice). She's been very open about it all.

Jennifer Tilly has that sweet, sweet Sam Simon money from their divorce.

I don't think Lacey Chabert was near A-list but she pretty much has disappeared.

A RESIDENT said...

Renée Zellweger

Rosemary Young said...

Renee Zellweger. (Beat me to it!) Nothing in IMDB between 2010 and 2014 (!) One brief marriage, anulled. Some boyfriends.

Other former A-listers who have disappeared include Bridget Fonda and Mira Sorvino, but they are both married.

Unknown said...

On the Zellweger train

Erik said...

Other than Californication, Kathleen Turner has done almost nothing over the last 10-15 years...

DewieTheBear said...

@Erik, in 2008, she wrote a widely praised book, "Send Yourself Roses," that went into great detail about her rheumatoid arthritis and alcoholism, which ruined her looks (which in turn diminished her movie opportunities) starting in the mid-nineties. It's not her.

Erik said...

Zellweger is a better guess, I guess.

BringingUglyBack said...

Not Lacey. She's been my future wife for some years now.

Kelly said...

That is just sad.

Rosso said...

Renee fits mostly but I wouldn't really describe her roles as tough straight women. Maybe I just haven't watched many of her films but I certainly never associate her with tough female roles.

sandybrook said...

It would be funny if this was Renee because she divorced Kenny Chesney because he married her under false pretenses (allegedly) HE'S gay.

Anonymous said...

Bridgette Fonda

Anonymous said...

Flipped and crashed her 1998 Jaguar XK8 sports car, along the same infamous Malibu stretch of highway where both Nick Nolte and Robert Downey Jr. got into trouble with the law. She survived, but with minor back injuries.
She "retired" after that

Now! said...

@Rosso, I agree. Her best known role is Bridget Jones, which is hardly a tough lady. You could argue that Roxy Hart and the lady in Cold Spring Mountain were tough, I suppose, and the maybe the single mom she played in Jerry Maguire.

Theresa said...

Kathleen Turner has rheumatoid arthritis which can be a terrible, crippling disease. I don't think this blind fits--it says this person was A list not even a decade ago and Kathleen Turner hasn't been close to A list within the last 10 years.

Now! said...

@Janzy75, Bridget has been out of the business for longer than 'not even a decade ago'. She hasn't acted since 2002.

D Brown said...

Kathleen Turner has mostly been doing stage work for the last decade. Still active, just not in movies/TV.

Mira Sorvino has about 20 film credits and 4 kids in the last decade. Admittedly all the films seem to be direct to video (I watch a lot of films and I didn't recognize a single title).

Bridget Fonda hasn't worked since her car accident in 2003 but had a son in 2005. Married so doesn't count. Although there doesn't really appear to be many recent photos, unlike Mira.

Lacey Chabert appears unmarried but has more than fifty credits over the last decade, mix of TV and movies. Interestingly does a lot of voice work on animated series.

MISCH said...

Wow, I always said if I were gay Renee is for me....

Count Jerkula said...

Sam Simon was only involved with the Simpsons for a few years, but has the Creator credit. Jennifer Tilly was married to him for the first 6months of the Simpsons run. Because of the lucky timing, and California's divorce laws, she has earned over $100million from the Simpsons. On Howard Stern's show, Sam wouldn't say how much, but he said it was 9figures.

Eros said...

Thats a really good guess but i dont know that Rosie has ever been an A.

Eros said...

I agree.. I think her roles have been split somewhat. In jerry mcguire, she had a very feminine role but her later roles were ballsy women.

Eros said...

So talented... What happened to her

Now! said...

@Count, that's amazing. $100 million for lucky timing.

Lee said...

Debrah Winger for sure.

AB said...

Jennifer Jason Leigh?
Hilary Swank?

Now! said...

Agree, it is a good guess, but Rosie was in a movie last year - that Viola Davis vehicle, 'Won't Back Down.' She's also done 'Nurse Jackie' and some other TV.

Now! said...

@Lee, Winger is married and still works occasionally.

Sorry to be so negative...but Zelwegger still seems to fit best.

SueRH said...

A voice that is still recognizable - Fran Drescher. :)

Unknown said...

Didn't Drescher just do a (reality?) show about her relationship with her gay x?

CarolMR said...

I was thinking of Fran Drescher, too, but she had her own show on TVLAND until recently.

Unknown said...

Lori pretty, ftw

Unknown said...

Opps petty

Tempestuous Grape said...

I'm fairly certain this is Lori Petty.

Kelly Simmons said...

Debra Winger was just in Rachel Gets Married -- but otherwise, she sure fits.

Alexa Rose said...

Lara Flynn Boyle comes to mind but I don't think she was ever A and she was married to a man.

Has Renee Z. been out of it for that long? Could be here.

Anonymous said...

Hilary Swank sounds like a good guess. Tough roles, I could see her being gay. She's really disappeared after Million Dollar Baby. (IMO I don't think Fonda or Turner are really relative enough today to fit the bill of this item, it reads like a more recent star than them.)

PS said...

What about Rene Russo? She was on fire with Thomas Crowne and Get Shorty, then disappeared. I think she may be trying to come back, but....it was a huge chunk of time off. Lori Petty was in a terrible accident, I think, but she has consistently worked. She doesn't strike me as someone who'd have trouble With sexuality. Bridget Fonda is married but was also in a bad accident and retired. Hillary Swank drops off but is public with appearances and fashion shows.

La Minette Grincheuse said...

If it were Hilary Swank I think the blind would mention her two Academy Awards. Also, following Enty logic that would make her permanent A-list, right?

Lori Petty always pinged my gaydar, but I'm not sure her roles were major enough to qualify.

The "smile" used a lot makes me think of Julia Roberts, but she was just at TIFF and also is an Award winner.

Hmmmm...

AKM said...

Lori Petty had a memorable albeit short role on "House" as a person with Huntington's disease. That was in the last...five years, I guess?

Snapdragon said...

Renee Z? No way, not if she spent 13 days in bed with her new BOYfriend. She was writing/producing a TV show ("Cinnamon Girls")--unfortunately didn't get picked up--and has done charity work in Liberia with The GREAT Initiative. Not buying that it's her.

When I think Renee, I don't think "tough" female characters, overall. Strong, possibly, but not "tough".

La Minette Grincheuse said...

Kim Basinger or Mena Suvari?

Jen said...

I was going to guess Sean Young, but she was on Celebrity Rehab and recently did a movie. She's also "married" and has kids...

LF said...

Had her own movies and her name was above the titles.

It seems like "tumbleweed" and "crash and burn" could be clues. Tumbleweed might reference where she grew up and crash and burn could be from a movie or car crash.

memery said...

Minnie Driver??

crila16 said...

As I read this, all I saw was Zellweger. Her career has completely stalled. I also had heard she has a really bad Rosacea problem, which is exasperated by alcohol and sugar.

Angelina said...

How about Linda Fiorentino? Great voice, always played tough, straight women. IMDB says she didn't do anything from 2002 to 2009.

Katie said...

People, IMDB is your friend. Half these guesses are impossible. Has to be someone who has not done anything in the last few years, whatever she did just before that wasn't hit-worthy, yet was A-list 10 years ago.

It's Renee Zellweger.

Liv said...

Mary Stuart Masterson?

Liv said...

Totally NOT Zellweger.

"You probably have not thought of her in a few years."

Um...Zellweger gets papped frequently.

califblondy said...

Does Z's squinty eyed smile make everyone around her smile?

I don't think so.

geminigirl789 said...

Zellweger for sure. She vanished entirely, to the point that her appearance at the OScars this year was a complete shock-and she looked awful. She's been papped a few times since then, but was off the radar for years.

Tara said...

Renee is still well-known in terms of name recognition - People covered the new boyfriend (Doyle, so enough that I even remember his name) and her relationship with Bradley Cooper. If she returned to acting, I think she'd be able to land a movie and wouldn't have to worry about CSI, L&O, etc. I think she was likeable then and probably would be now.

Jaiden_S said...

Rosie Perez

Tara said...

Also, Renee - tough? She was a pinky romantic comedy lead. And Roxie Hart. Like, I don't know about tough...

Publicus said...

Eat my shit. I hate myself but I hate you more.

Ruby Red said...

Thora Birch?

LF said...

The problem with making Zellweger and some others work for this is that if they'd nearly killed someone while drunk, it would have been all over the news. Lori Petty is a better fit, because it was well publicized that she was charged with DUI after hitting a skateboarder in 2009. She was already past her prime by then, but it's true she hasn't been in the public since. Recognizable voice. Tough characters. She's never been married and doesn't have any kids. She's from Tennessee (tumbleweed reference). I also think NCIS episode is a clue - Lori Petty guest starred in NYPD Blue and CSI in the early 2000s.

Snapdragon said...

@geminigirl789: "She vanished entirely:" except not really. She's got a gap in her actress work from 2010 to the next released film in 2014, but has producer and writer credits.

She has hardly shied away from public appearances in the interim, and I don't think her sexuality has ever been called into question (not that I would give a shit if she was attracted to women. Yeah, I may be biased as I follow her career a little more closely than most, but just. not. buying it.

Plus--think about it. Is her voice really so memorable? When I think memorable voice, I think Kathleen Turner, Bacall, etc. (NOT saying I think that this is either of them.)

Whoever this blind is about--hope she can find help.

joymichelle said...

It's not Jennifer Tilly. She does voice work all the time, and can be seen on tv in poker tournaments. She also has been dating a man, Phil Laak, for years now. Definitely not her.

Sue T. said...

Lori Petty fits better than Renee. "Tough," "name above the title" - she starred in "Tank Girl" which was supposed to be her big breakthrough, and she was beloved from "A League of Their Own." She has essentially zero credits from 2009-on.

hothotheat said...

Lori Petty was also Keanu's love interest in Point Break (miscast imho, but still).

I like Lori Petty for this one. We don't really have paparazzi here in Texas which I think is where Zellweger is spending her time lately.

Rory Gman said...

Kelly McGillis

Brenda L said...

Sigourney Weaver?

Brenda L said...

Nope...Sigourney has stuff on IMDB

NaughtyNurse said...

HIlary Swank has ALWAYS set off my gaydar alarms.

Tru Leigh said...

Liking the Linda Fiorentino guess.

TeacherNan said...

I vote Lori Petty.

Oopsy_Daisy said...

Zellweger broke Jack White's heart

Jen said...

Tracey Gold almost killed her family.... But she's a made-for-TV movie queen.

Susan said...

Zellweger definitely.

Weren't there rumors earlier this year about a Bridget Jones 3? I just googled it, and the headlines say it's not coming anytime soon.

Plus, she was so off the wall at the last Oscars.

I think you could say a lot of her characters have been tough but sweet. And she clearly was the headliner in the Bridget Jones franchise.

I have been wondering what the hell happened to her. She hasn't been in anything in forevs.

maryb said...

I have maybe posted comments three times ever... but I feel the need to post this time because I feel so confident that this is Lori Petty.

Snootches said...

It's Lori Petty. Got arrested in 2009 for a DUI after hitting a 14 year old skateboarder.

anon said...

I just caught a couple of minutes of "A League of Our(their?)Own" the other day and was wondering what happened to Lori Petty - but I just always assumed she was a lesbian - am I mistaken that she was out?

Linda Fiorentino seems like a good guess, she played some bad ass characters and did drop out of sight.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandy said...

Lori Petty has never been A list under any circumstances. And here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g7SBo79zUc

she looks old but not drunk or hiding away.

I think this is Zellweger. She's an extremely unpleasant person.

Secondbecky said...

My first thought. It wouldn't be Joey lauren Adams bc Enty loves her

Secondbecky said...

Stop trying to make fetch happen

Secondbecky said...

Ohh and her one marriage was a beard thing right? But isn't she doing some more Bridget jones movies?

Snapdragon said...

For those still trying to ride the RZ train:

- No mention in this blind of the actress being an Academy Award winner. Really?

- "a voice that is still recognizable" -- seriously, does anyone think there's anything particularly outstanding about RZ's voice? She's no whiskey and cigarettes, or Cyndi Lauper.

- "she was trying to keep her sexuality secret from the public" -- The "13 days in bed with new boyfriend" reveal, unless that's all a big PR ploy too. And wasn't she a fairly popular guess for a recent item where an actress stripped down wearing a wig and gave her boyfriend a lap dance in a club?

- "She always played straight women. Tough, but straight." -- With the exception of possibly Cold Mountain, I can't think of another film in which her - character could be thought of as 'tough'. Beatrix Potter? Nurse Betty? Bridget Jones? Not exactly ass-kicking.

- "Liver damage"--A breast cancer scare, running six days a week, etc. Of course, that could all be PR BS too.

- The car crash. Seriously. The woman gets sideswiped and it's all over TMZ. Her car gets hit when someone does an illegal U-turn, and it's on Radar Online. Where and when did this near-fatality happen that it was so well covered up that not one site has had a peep of it?

- "she has basically disappeared from any sort of possible public encounter and definitely nothing in film or television" -- She's been at the Met Gala in 2011, 2012 and 2013, Golden Globes in at least 2011, a German Film Award in 2011. She's been all over the tabs with her relationship with Bradley Cooper. She was revealed to be helping that 87-year-old homeless woman with Zach Galifianakis. Seriously, she has not disappeared.

This blind seems to be talking about someone who has gone totally AWOL from the public eye.

YES, she looked like she might have had one too many at the Oscars. Yes, her one (legally-it-never-happened) marriage ended but it is not her sexuality that has sparked rumours about why it ended. And yes, there is/was a Bridget Jones 3 film in the works and I'm not sure she ever publicly confirmed a commitment to appear, but there were reportedly problems with the script. And yeah, I think she has a nice smile. :-) (Whether or not one thinks she's unpleasant is beside the point.)

But I don't think it's Renee.

Snapdragon said...

By the same token, I don't think Lori Petty or Linda Fiorentino were ever A-listers who had their names above movie titles, plural.

Bridget Fonda's got the A-list, the name-above-the-titles, the disappearance from film & public eye, the car crash (2003), but... reportedly retired to marry & raise family with Danny Elfman (engagement announced shortly after crash then married 2003), and no one else was reported to have been involved in that crash.

Also, I don't know if her voice is particularly memorable, so. ;-)

AKM said...

"She's from Tennessee (tumbleweed reference)."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. There aren't any tumbleweeds in Tennessee. I grew up there, so I know. Tumbleweeds are out west.

I agree with Snapdragon...NOT Renee. And Lori Petty was never an A.

Ktamc said...

Gina Davis?

Ktamc said...

She played tough roles but not sure about the voice.

Snapdragon said...

@AKM, right?

AB said...


What actresses have been above the title?

di butler said...

100% NOT Renee, JLA, or Rosie P. I'm going Brigit Fonda, as well.

Nothanksdarlin said...

Sandybrook, I know that's a common rumor but I have a friend who dated him and she assures me that he is straight.
Who knows though.

Nothanksdarlin said...

LF, I'm kinda with you on the guess but I've not seen tumbleweeds in TN so that's not good leverage ;)

News 24/5 said...

Lori Petty:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20282331,00.html

I don't see her as A, but her name above titles in The Glass Ceiling, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relax...It%27s_Just_Sex,Route 666, MacArthur Park, Clubland, Blood Money aka The Arrangement (she's described as a "feisty stripper"), Countdown aka Serial Bomber

Other "tough" roles -- Prison Break, League, Point Break, Tank Girl, In the Army Now, Glass Shield, Route 666...

Tank Girl is the only true more-have-heard-of "star"-turn, but she's best known for Point Break and League of Their Own.

She directed Jennifer Lawrence (her first major role) in 2008's The Poker House

The only thing that may make the BI NOT her is the A List

News 24/5 said...

Sorry, that People link is to the DUI she got when she almost killed a 14-year-old skateboarder, which is another fit to the BI

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