Kathleen Turner Past & Present

When you think of Kathleen Turner, most of us think of the classic film "Body Heat," but these days the actress is starring in a new play at the Playhouse in the Park.

She sat down with Carol Williams this week and talked about the present and the past.

She has a famous husky voice that you'd know anywhere.  Kathleen Turner commands the stage in a new play called "High."

Turner appears at the Marx Theater thru October 2, 2010. It's the second stop in a tour that's working out the kinks on the road to Broadway.  "Last week when we came to Cincinnati we rehearsed a new scene Tuesday and put it on Tuesday nite. Tell me that's not nerve-wracking," said Turner.

Turner plays a tough-talking nun struggling to save a drug addict. She appears on stage for the entire two hours. It takes discipline to maintain her energy for eight performances a week.

"I work out at the Cincinnati Ballet. They have a great pilates program there. I have rheumatoid arthritis and pilates is wonderful strengthening and flexibility thing for me," said Turner.

Turner first came to fame in "Body Heat,"made in 1980. This year is the 30th anniversary of the making of the film. "I was so excited, so scared. It happened so fast for me. I got out of college and went to New York City and was on Broadway the first year, " explained Turner.

After "Body Heat" and a string of successful films in the 1980's, rheumatoid arthritis and a struggle with alcohol slowed Turner down but didn't stop her.

When Carol asked her if she prefers television or stage she said stage.

Before "High," Turner received tony award nominations for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

"I don't have a lot to prove anymore. I'm very good at my job. I've shown that for 30 years. So I get to start there and then create," said Turner.

Helping to create this new work excites Turner. She also enjoys exploring the Queen City. Turner says she likes Mt. Adams, she's checking out our museums, and that her voice gives her away every time.

"I don't think people expect to see me in Cincinnati. So I'll go in a store, and then when I say something, they'll say, you know, you really look and sound exactly like Kathleen Turner. I'll say, yes, yes i am Kathleen Turner. Then they'll say 'come on! Get outta here!' so it's fun."

Turner clearly loves what she does. Earlier this week, she taught a master class in acting at Northern Kentucky University for some lucky students there.

You can see her in "High" at the Playhouse in the Park through October 2nd.