Janine Turner, best known for her role in Northern Exposure, was one of the most captivating actresses of the ’90s, even earning Emmy and Golden Globe nods.
But did you know that she has battled alcoholism, was moments away from marrying Alec Baldwin, and has a daughter whose famous father refuses to take any responsibility?
Janine Turner’s beauty was captivating, making her presence on screen unforgettable. Her role as Maggie O’Connell on Northern Exposure was brilliantly crafted, standing out as one of the best female characters on TV.
The show itself was a unique blend — a warm, family-friendly counterpart to Twin Peaks, weaving together touches of magical realism, Native American mysticism, and reflections on life and humanity. The combination of rich characters and philosophical musings created an uplifting, memorable series that balanced intrigue and heart, cementing its place as a classic of the time.
But how did this beauty become one of the most recognized actresses in the world?
Pigeon-holed into doing ”girly” things
Janine Turner was born in 1962 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Shortly after her birth, her parents returned to their roots in Texas, where she was raised in the towns of Euless and Fort Worth.
Growing up in the 1960s, Janine Turner felt often confined to stereotypical ”girly” roles like dancing, modeling, and acting. Despite excelling in these areas, her true love was academics, particularly writing. While doing well in school was considered a bonus, it wasn’t prioritized. Janine found her real voice in the quiet moments, curled up with pen and paper, discovering that writing was her true passion.
Her Texan upbringing (her father was a West Point graduate) shaped the early years of her life. She was raised to be a good girl, to be beautiful, to be a star – and she was.
Janine’s rise to fame began at a young age, when she started working as a model.
”I was supposed to be perfect,” Janine said.
One of Janine’s earliest memories is of standing inside a jet engine while wearing a Martha’s Miniatures outfit, posing for an American Airlines ad.
”I was terrified,” she explained. ”I can’t believe my mom let me do it.”
How she became an “airheaded bimbo”
Janine trained with the Fort Worth Ballet and made her stage debut at 12 in a summer stock production of Charlotte’s Web. By the age of 18, she had landed a recurring role on Dallas.
After high school, Turner’s career picked up momentum, landing her a regular role on the late-night soap Behind the Screen. This would later lead to an offer from General Hospital, where producers quickly recognized her talent.
Cast as Laura Templeton, Demi Moore’s sister, Janine Turner described her role in General Hospital as an “airheaded bimbo, an idiot.”
At 23, Turner moved to New York, eager to embrace her passion for acting. She soon took on Broadway roles in several acclaimed productions.
Yet, despite some success, she wasn’t entirely satisfied with her career. By 1986, Janine Turner was disillusioned by the roles being offered to her. Despite her constant work, she felt trapped in a cycle of superficial characters.
”I had countless auditions a day from the time I was 15 to 27 – 12 years,” Janine told The Dallas Morning News in 1997. ”For every ‘Yes’, you get 100 ‘Nos.”
Battle against Hollywood’s ugliness
Janine also faced some of the uglier sides of Hollywood. For many years, Janine was pushed by agents and casting directors to play the stereotypical “damsel in distress” role, often clad in a bikini.
This was something she struggled with deeply, as it didn’t reflect her true abilities or aspirations.
For example, at just 21, she was asked to participate in a degrading audition that required her to wear a swimsuit and pose for a male producer. ”I was horrible. I mean, it’s degrading. For some women, it would be OK; for me, it was not.”
“When I left L.A. I was disgusted with acting,” Janine said. “I had no respect for it as a profession.”
The actress was never willing to sacrifice her values for the sake of advancing her career. Deep down, she remained true to herself, guided by what she describes as ”Baptist purity”.
Janine Turner was broke and depressed
In the late 1980s, Janine hit a devastating low point. With just $8 in her bank account and $2000 in unpaid rent, she felt utterly lost.
After being rejected for yet another job, she fled onto the streets of New York, tears streaming down her face, her white poodle, Eclaire, by her side.
In a final act of desperation, she packed her bags, determined to escape. With Eclair in tow, she headed for the airport, rented a car, and drove straight for Texas. She had a plan: she would move to Athens, the small town where her father grew up, and start over. She would work as a waitress in a diner, far from the limelight. No one would know her. No one would care.
But even that didn’t go as planned. She got lost before she even made it out of New York. In a haze of confusion, she turned the car around and drove back to her apartment. Her brother Tim, his wife, and her best friend from Fort Worth came to her side, urging her to return to Texas and escape the pain of the city.
How old was Janine Turner in Northern Exposure?
But Janine wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Next week, a 28-year-old Janine Turner got a phone call that was about an audition for an offbeat little TV show called Northern Exposure. She read for the part in New York and the day after, she was on a plane heading for Los Angeles.
It was a turning point for Janine, who was on the verge of giving up. The role she would later land as Maggie O’Connell, an Alaskan bush pilot, catapulted her to stardom, becoming one of the most iconic roles of the 90s.
The role held a deep personal significance for Janine, as flying ran in her family. Her father, a West Point graduate, was a heroic Air Force pilot and one of the first to fly Mach 2 in the B-58 Hustler.
It was no surprise that Janine felt a special connection to this aspect of her life, with such an impressive legacy soaring through the skies.
Why she was almost turned down
Her exceptional performance as Maggie O’Connell earned Janine Turner an Emmy nomination in 1993, along with three consecutive Golden Globe nominations from 1992 to 1994.
”I’ve found my ideal character in Maggie,” she told the Tribune. ”She’s smarter and stronger than all the men she meets”.
But did you know that she came very close to never landing her groundbreaking role?
”I almost didn’t get Northern Exposure because they thought I was ”too pretty to be a pilot,” Janine told The Dallas Morning News.
Janine Turner and Sylvester Stallone
The success of Northern Exposure opened the door for Janine Turner to land a role in Cliffhanger, a legendary action film from 1993. Starring Sylvester Stallone, the film is remembered for its intense mountain-climbing stunts, breathtaking visuals, and heart-pounding suspense.
While filming Cliffhanger in Cortina, Italy, Sylvester Stallone arranged for horses to be part of a scene because he knew Janine Turner loved them.
The scene was emotionally intense, as Turner worked to bring depth to her character’s emotional life. Despite the freezing cold and 12-hour shoot with multiple camera angles, Stallone was incredibly supportive throughout the process, according to Janine.
The movie also holds a Guinness World Record for the most expensive aerial stunt ever. Sylvester Stallone, eager to overcome his fear of heights, joined the film in part to face that challenge.
In the famous cave scene with bats, however, both Stallone and Janine Turner were too frightened to film with live bats. As a result, the bats you see on screen were added digitally in post-production, replacing the real ones originally brought in for the scene.
Miss Merry Christmas in Steel Magnolias
Speaking of iconic films, do you remember Janine Turner’s small but memorable role in the cult classic Steel Magnolias?
In the iconic movie from 1989, Janine Turner plays Nancy Beth Marmillion, a character that’s often overlooked in the film’s star-studded ensemble.
Though her screen time is brief, her portrayal of Nancy Beth Marmillion, the town’s dethroned ”Miss Merry Christmas,” adds a fun touch to the movie’s humorous and heartwarming depiction of Southern life.
A recent viral photo from the movie set has also caught the attention of fans on Facebook. Many fans were initially shocked to discover that 24-year-old Janine Turner had a role in Steel Magnolias.
However, the behind-the-scenes photo from the film has recently gained attention for more than just her presence. Upon closer examination, viewers have noticed amusing details, such as the quirky expressions of the men in the background.
Commenters have hilariously noted the awkward expressions of the men behind her, with one fan even pointing out the guy with a cigarette, humorously remarking, ”Would you look at Janine’s ornaments!”
It’s still a bit unclear who the two men in the picture are, but many speculate that the older gentleman might be Janine’s father – although she hasn’t confirmed it herself. There’s no doubt, however, that her fans absolutely love the photo, which she often shares on her Facebook page.
And let’s be honest, who can resist agreeing that she looks absolutely magical?
Dating Alex Baldwin
Janine Turner, once named one of the ten sexiest people in America by US Magazine, has had her fair share of high-profile relationships.
Despite her undeniable beauty and charm, the Southern Baptist girl has faced her own struggles when it comes to love. Her past includes failed relationships with two big names — Alec Baldwin and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
When Janine Turner was just 20, she crossed paths with an unknown actor named Alec Baldwin at an audition for a TV show called Cutter to Houston. He was determined to win her over, constantly asking her out. But after she finally agreed, Baldwin stood her up — three times.
”He always had some excuse, like his car had a flat,” Janine recalled in an interview with D Magazine.
“I went out with him, but I wasn’t convinced.”
Seconds away from marrying Alec Baldwin
But one thing from back home would give Baldwin a few extra chances.
So here’s the thing — Janine’s parents were going through a pretty messy time. They had gotten divorced, remarried, and then were getting divorced again. It was a lot for her to handle. But even though Alec Baldwin wasn’t the most responsible guy, he was there for her. She says he was all macho, charming, funny — and he even wanted to be president one day.
They fell in love and started planning to get married. Everything was set — she had the white dress, the invitations were all ready, it looked like a perfect match. Alec got what it was like to be an actor. But just days before the wedding, they called it off. Life was too crazy for both of them. Janine says she never touched drugs, but she realized she was drinking way too much back then.
“We had the dress, the invitations, the church, everything,” she said. “And then we called it off. Mutually called it off.”
Mikhail Baryshnikov cheated on her
After her split with Baldwin, Janine moved to New York, where she turned to another lover. She had first met dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov five years earlier at his New York restaurant.
“It was one of those looks across a crowded room,” she recalled.
Janine had a four-year on-again, off-again relationship with Misha, the Latvian-American dancer, choreographer, and actor.
But the relationship ended suddenly when another dancer announced she was pregnant with Misha’s child. “That broke my heart,” Janine said and added:
“But I believe in marriage and honesty and birth control.”
Janine Turner’s love life has seen its fair share of headlines, from dating NFL star Troy Aikman to Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone.
Janine Turner and Jerry Jones Jr
Yet despite the glamour and romance, Janine never walked down the aisle. One significant chapter in her story involves her connection to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. While she hasn’t seen him in years, there’s no forgetting the time when she dated his son, Jerry Jones Jr., a relationship that brought her one of the greatest loves of her life — her daughter, Juliette Turner-Jones.
In 1997, Janine’s world changed forever when she became a mother. Choosing to step back from her busy career, Janine devoted herself to raising Juliette.
Unfortunately, she had to do it on her own, as Juliette’s father was not present.
“Motherhood happened upon me and my focus became my daughter,” she explained, “and as a single mom, because her father wasn’t around, chose not to be, I was all alone. I mean all alone, not kinda like the dad is there on the weekends. Completely alone, so I think I felt I wanted to be home with my family.”
For a while, Janine wasn’t sure if motherhood would be possible for her. Just two years before her pregnancy, she had undergone a frightening surgery that resulted in the removal of her gallbladder and one ovary.
“So this is my little miracle baby,” Janine says, looking at Juliette as the precious gift she believes was sent from God.
In May 2024, Juliette, now 26, graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School.
Is Janine Turner Republican or Democrat?
Unlike most in the entertainment industry, Turner has openly described herself as a proud Republican and a Bible-reading, church-going Christian.
She’s often credited her strong faith for helping her overcome personal challenges, including her battle with alcoholism.
Turner’s involvement in politics and public service goes beyond casual support.
In 2006, she was appointed to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, created by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2003.
By 2010, she had launched a successful career as a public speaker, sharing her inspirational stories on topics like heart health, sobriety, faith, the Constitution, and politics. Her appearances at corporate events, schools, universities, and churches have established her as a respected voice in the conservative movement.
Does Janine Turner support Trump?
Despite being a fervent Republican and vocal supporter of conservative values, Turner has described herself as ”socially liberal and fiscally conservative,” even noting, ”I’m almost more libertarian.”
Yet, when it comes to her stance on Donald Trump, there’s little ambiguity.
The Northern Exposure star expressed her support for Trump’s presidency through social media, especially during key moments in his career. When Trump contracted COVID-19, she shared her prayers publicly: “Praying for you, President Trump and for our First Lady Melania. Get well soon, we need you!” Her enthusiasm was evident when she celebrated his election victory in 2016, posting, “America is saved by we the people!!! Thank you Donald Trump! Thank you God!!!!”
Janine Turner is also a strong supporter of America’s veterans, driven by a deep personal connection to their cause. Her great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War, and her grandfather served in World War II. As mentioned before, her father also had a military background.
Janine Turner today
Janine Turner is currently living on a longhorn cattle ranch just outside Dallas, a place she’s put her heart and soul into. “The ranch was raw land when I bought it and, for better or worse, I have designed every aspect of it, from the corrals, the arena, to the barn, to the house,” she shares.
When she’s not working, Janine enjoys riding horses, hiking through the woods with her daughter, Juliette, and tending to her Longhorns. “Why do I love Longhorns? Longhorns epitomize Texas,” she explains.
Beyond ranch life, Turner has been busy in various ways. She is the author of four books and even hosted The Janine Turner Show on Dallas’ talk radio station KLIF (AM) back in 2011.
While she still makes occasional appearances in films and TV series, none have made a significant impact in recent years.
Despite this, she stays active and connected, balancing her quiet ranch life with occasional forays into public speaking and writing. About raising her daughter, she candidly admits, “I would have loved for her to have a father figure in her life, but he’s just not a part of our lives.”
Janine Turner’s story is one of grit, faith, and staying true to herself.
From her Hollywood days to raising her daughter and living the ranch life in Texas, she’s faced ups and downs with strength and heart. Whether she’s writing books, supporting veterans, or riding horses with Juliette, Janine shows us that life’s journey can be beautiful and surprising.
If her story inspires you too, share it with your friends on Facebook and remind them that resilience and staying true to who you are always win in the end!
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