I absolutely love ‘Dallas,’ it’s one of my all-time favorite TV shows. Victoria Principal, especially as Pamela Barnes Ewing, was such a big part of what made it great. Alongside Larry Hagman, who played J. R. Ewing, she really made the show unforgettable. Can you believe she’s 74 now? She’s still stunning!
Victoria Principal, who’s 74 now, has done a lot of different things in her career. She’s been an actress, writer, producer, and even started her own skincare business. Maybe her ability to do so many things comes from her upbringing. She moved around a lot as a kid, so she had to learn how to adjust to new places all the time.
Born in Japan
Victoria Ree Principal was born on January 3, 1950, in Japan.
Her dad was in the United States Air Force, so they moved a lot. They lived in different places like England, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, and Florida while she was growing up.
What we do know is that Victoria began working at a very young age. At just 5 years old, she got her first job in a television commercial.
Struggled in Hollywood
“I just wanted to succeed so I wouldn’t get hurt. I started to toughen up and protect myself,” she told People.
In 1974, she starred in the disaster movie “Earthquake,” which made a lot of money.
But in 1975, while filming the action movie “Vigilante Force,” Victoria felt like something was really off. She collapsed because she was so stressed out trying to be perfect.
“I was so unhappy that I didn’t want to live anymore,” Victoria said.
Victoria knew Dallas would be a hit.
Dallas, which first aired in 1978, is considered one of the greatest TV dramas ever. Back then, it was super popular—so much so that it’s hard to explain how big of a deal it was. It was like everyone around the world was talking about it.
The show is all about the Ewings, a rich family from Texas who owned oil and cattle ranches.
When Dallas started, Victoria Principal was 28 years old, and she played a big part in making the show famous. Her character, Pamela Barnes Ewing, was married to Bobby Ewing and was the sister-in-law of JR. She became a huge crush for many people watching the show.
Victoria even said no to a huge contract that would have made her the highest-paid actress on TV at the time.
One year after the interview with TV Insider, Victoria announced that she was stepping away from her company.