Children of the 1970s remember Bo Derek fondly. With her golden hair, bright blue eyes, and braided hairstyles, she was one of the biggest stars of her time. Many people have wondered what happened to her after her brief fame, why she stopped acting, and what she’s doing now. Here’s an update on Bo’s life today.
Bo Derek’s Early Years
Before she became known as Bo Derek, she was born Mary Cathleen Collins on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California. Mary grew up in a working-class family with her mother, who was a cosmetics artist, and her father, a sales executive. As a teenager, Mary was passionate about horses and competed in many events. She also loved
In a film with a scene similar to Jaws, a whale was shown biting off her leg. However, Bo Derek became truly famous thanks to Blake Edwards’ 1979 film 10. Her distinctive blonde braided hair became well-known at this time. After that, she didn’t focus on action films. Some of her later movies included Ghosts Can’t Do It (1990), Bolero (1984), and Tarzan, The Ape Man (1981).
Relationship with John Derek
Bo first met director John Derek, who would later become her husband, when she was just 16. At the time, John was married to Linda Evans. They started dating a few years later. To avoid strict American regulations, they had to travel to Mexico and Europe while Bo was still young.
John and Bo got married when they were 48 and 19, respectively. In an interview, Bo admitted she often felt guilty around Linda Evans. She said, “I felt partly responsible for some of the pain Linda went through. She was very kind and gracious. I saw her again recently at a charity event, and she was just as wonderful as ever. Even years later, I still feel bad when I’m around her.”
John Derek encouraged Bo to show off her body to add excitement to his low-budget films. While this helped draw attention to his movies, it mostly highlighted Bo because he was a well-known figure in Hollywood.
John Derek and Bo’s Braided Hairstyle
John Derek came up with the braided hairstyle for Bo’s famous movie 10, even though he didn’t direct it. He suggested that Bo show some of his photos to Blake Edwards, the film’s director, to see if he liked the look. Bo agreed and said, “Back in the late 1970s, I thought this would be a great look for me. John is an amazing photographer. He suggested I show Blake these photos and see if he would like it for the role.”
He was 71 years old when he passed away. Bo said that after his death, she never thought she would reconnect with anyone. She was deeply devastated by the loss.
Bo Derek’s early love for horseback riding was more important to her than her later fame. Even at the height of her acting career, she chose to step away from it. Instead, she became an activist and worked hard to support and protect animals.
Bo Derek’s early love for horseback riding was more important to her than her later fame. Even at the peak of her acting career, she chose to leave it behind. Instead, she focused on being an activist for animal welfare, working hard to protect and care for animals.
They have been together for over 20 years. They chose not to announce their plans publicly and instead got married in private, with just their closest friends and family.
