Here are a few of Debbie Turner’s favorite things.
The “Sound of Music” star, 69, opened up about her second act after leaving Hollywood following just two films.
Turner first portrayed Marta von Trapp in the 1965 family classic before acting in her last project, “North Dallas Forty,” in 1979.
“I was a floral designer for many years,” she told People in an interview published Monday. “I’ve designed weddings. I even designed one in the Leopoldskron Palace in Salzburg many years ago. I’ve done some really nice weddings.”
One job itself included decorating the White House for Christmas.
“That was a really neat experience — probably one of the most physically grueling and cool things I’ve ever done,” Turner expressed.
In 2017, the former actress helped President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump decorate the iconic house over the holidays.
“It was a week-long deal. It was me and 149 other designers that they put to task to do all these things to make the magic of Christmas at the White House happen. So I was just thrilled to be a part of that,” Turner gushed. “I had to go up on scaffolding. I almost fell and killed myself. It was really cool.”
She added about the first lady, “Melania is actually the one who works with the lead person to put the White House together.”
“The most proud moment of that house was doing the largest tree, which is in the Blue Room,” reminisced Turner. “They call it the People’s Tree. And I got to decorate the People’s Tree, which was kind of the centerpiece or the focal piece of the entire White House.”
As she put it, the experience was “pretty amazing.”
And Turner would love the chance to decorate the White House once more.
“I haven’t let that go completely. I might try and get involved again,” she confessed.
Despite being up for that job in particular, Turner is “kind of retired.”
The wedding florist, meanwhile, tied the knot with husband Richard Larson in 1980 and the pair share four kids.
“My husband retired this past year and I thought, ‘Well, I don’t need to keep doing this.’ I’ve been doing weddings for a long time and, as a wedding florist, it’s a very taxing job,” Turner explained. “And so, I mean, physically hard to do it. I love designing, but I just turned 69, and it’s like, ‘I’m getting too old for this stuff.’”
“So I’m kind of pulling back. I mean, if something came along that would be really amazing, I’d probably step back into it. But for all practical purposes, I’m retired. So now it’s grandkids time!”
The “Sound of Music” starred Christopher Plummer as a widower and father to seven unruly children who falls in love with a nun, played by Julie Andrews.
Along with Turner, the von Trapp kids included Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright and Kym Karath.
The movie celebrated its 60th anniversary in March, with the group reuniting in Florence, Italy in July.
“The Sound of Music in Florence – the five of us!” Karath, 67, captioned her Instagram post.
The actress was accompanied by Hammond, 75, Chase, 75, Cartwright, 73, and Turner.
Plummer died in 2021 at the age of 91.
Menzies passed away in 2017 at the age of 68, while Carr died in 2016 at age 73.
Andrews, 90, was absent from the festivities.
“Celebrating together in Florence with all my film siblings was a complete delight,” Karath told Fox News Digital at the time
“Being together, the five of us, in one of the most beautiful cities, Florence, and appearing in the breathtaking historic theater Teatro Niccolini, built in 1648, was absolutely magical,” the star gushed. “The press was wonderful, and the fans were overwhelmingly warm and enthusiastic.”
The on-screen siblings have stayed tight over the years, which Karath contributed to loyalty.
“I think the secret behind our friendship is the secret of all enduring friendships, although ours started at a film studio; staying close, loyal, and being there for one another,” she added.
“As for the film’s enduring appeal, beyond the soaring melodies and beautiful locations, it is the story of a real family who loved one another and were truly courageous.”
The movie won Best Picture at the Oscars in 1966 and was inspired by the real-life von Trapp family that fled Austria to escape the Nazi regime.
“Here is a little-known fact – the film family is friends with the real family,” continued Karath. “I just had a wonderful conversation with Elizabeth von Trapp, Werner’s daughter. Werner was portrayed by Duane Chase… and they became friends. When Werner passed away, he left Duane his beautiful Austrian jacket.”
