In the 80s she was a real star and a favorite of Bulgarian viewers. Today she is unrecognizable.

 

In the 80s, she was a real star, but today the 75-year-old actress cannot be recognized even by her most loyal fans. 

In the 80s, she was one of the most famous actresses. Her famous smile and blue eyes drove men crazy. Unfortunately, her career began to decline in the late 90s, and now the 75-year-old star is unrecognizable.

Did you recognize her? If not, here's the answer...

This is actress Shelley Long, known to viewers from the sitcom "Cheers." There, Shelley played the Russian waitress Diane.

Shelley Long was born on August 23, 1949, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. In her youth, she showed an interest in art and theater, but initially chose an academic path, studying drama at Northwestern University.

However, the attraction to the stage proved stronger, and Long dropped out of university to pursue a career in show business. Her first steps included commercials and performances in improvisational theater. It was there that she developed her comedic talent, which later brought her fame.

Fame for Shelley Long came in the early 1980s thanks to the role of Diane Chambers in the series

Her character, an intelligent but slightly arrogant waitress, became a favorite of viewers, and Shelley herself received an Emmy Award and two Golden Globes.

She left the show after the fifth season in hopes of making a breakthrough in film, stating that her role was exhausted. After leaving the series, Long decided to focus on film.

Among her most famous films are Cheap is Expensive with Tom Hanks, where a couple faces a nightmare home renovation, and The Impossible Ladies , where she plays an eccentric leader of a Girl Scout troop.

Despite her success, her career began to fade in the late 1990s. Long appeared on screen less and less, preferring to stay away from the Hollywood spotlight.

The post-divorce crisis

Long was married to Bruce Tyson from 1981 to 2004, but the same year their marriage ended, the actress was rushed to hospital after an alleged suicide attempt.

The actress reportedly attempted to overdose on painkillers and was admitted to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. A source close to her revealed that Long fell into a deep depression after her marriage ended.

During this period, Long's friends said she was not eating, barely getting out of bed, and hinted at suicidal thoughts.

"It's very sad to see this woman, who is only 55, look like she's turning 90," the source said.

Her friends said they watched her sink into depression for 18 months, and over time she increasingly expressed the feeling that she had nothing to live for.

Long was eventually released from the hospital, but facing the end of her 22-year marriage was difficult. She sold her Hollywood mansion and now lives alone.

However, what was reported as a suicide attempt, according to Long's publicist, Martin Mickelson, was simply a bad reaction to medication.

In recent years, the actress has only appeared in cameo roles, and her life has become more calm and secluded.

In 2022, she was photographed making a rare public appearance in Los Angeles. She was dressed casually, wearing a pink polo shirt, a black vest, a baseball cap, and glasses. Many found her unrecognizable compared to her time on the show.

Despite a broken marriage and unfulfilled film dreams, Shelley Long has left a significant mark on television. She remains an unforgettable part of "Cheers," and now she has the chance to experience a new role - that of a grandmother.