NEW YORK, April 13 (UPI) -- Actress Kathleen Turner has revealed steroids for rheumatoid arthritis made her look puffy and sparked gossip that she had a drinking problem.
The star of "Body Heat" and "Romancing the Stone" said she did not tell anyone about her health for fear of losing jobs, but when steroids caused her to gain weight, the drinking rumors started, the TV tabloid "Extra" reports.
Turner said she was at the height of her career when the disease hit and it reached a point where she could barely move.
But, Turner is now starring as Martha in Broadway's revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" and says drugs have brought the painful disease under control.
She said she also underwent replacement surgery on her right knee to play the physically demanding role.
"I'm playing the part I wanted to play for 30 years," Turner said of the role that has earned her rave reviews. "I couldn't be happier."
