Turner faked alcoholism

Kathleen Turner says she pretended to be an alcoholic to hide the fact she had rheumatoid arthritis.

She feared she would be unable to find work if she had arthritis because of Hollywood's obsession with youth.

The 51-year-old, who is moving to Italy, blasted the attitude of American directors who she accuses of only employing actress below a certain age.

She was afraid I wouldn't get work as her hands were very crippled for a while and she kept dropping things because she couldn't grip them.

The rumour was that she had a drinking problem and she admits that it was safer for her to let people think she was drinking than to tell them the truth.