The Blonde Bikini Bombshell: Whatever Happened to Bo Derek?
1970s kids will fondly remember Bo Derek. With her iconic look that took away any stigmas placed on braided hairstyles, blond locks, and burning blue eyes, she was one of the most beautiful bombshells of her time. After her brief stint of fame, many people have wondered where she ended up, why she stopped acting, and what her life looks like now. Let’s take a look at what Bo is up to these days.
Bo Derek’s Early Life
Before she was known as Bo Derek, she was born Mary Cathleen Collins, born on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California. Mary came from an average American background with parents who were working-class citizens. Her mother was a makeup artist, and her father was a sales executive. As a teenager, Mary displayed a keen interest in two areas. Firstly, she loved horses, and thus she became a keen equestrian. She would proudly show off her talents in various competitions. Secondly, she loved acting. So, she took up some acting lessons to hone those skills.
Bo made an appearance in the 1977 film, Orca. This Jaws-like movie showed a giant killer whale chomping off her leg. However, her real boost in fame came from the 1979 film “10,” produced by Blake Edwards. This was where her iconic blond braided hair became a recognizable trait of hers. After this movie, she wasn’t on a journey of acting in various action-packed, adventurous films. These included the 1981 “Tarzan, The Ape Man,” the 1984 “Bolero,” and the 1990 “Ghosts Can’t Do It.”
Marriage to John Derek
Bo met her future husband, director John Derek when she was but 16 years old. At the time, she was married to Linda Evans. It was only a few years later that they got together. However, Bo was still underage, so they had to avoid the strict American laws by spending time in Mexico and Europe.
It wasn’t long before they got married, Bo Derek was 19 years old, and John was 48. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Bo said she always felt a twinge of guilt when Linda was around. “I was at least halfway responsible for some serious pain she (Linda Evans) went through,” said Bo. “She’d been very gracious and kind … And I just saw her yesterday, funny enough. We were at a jewelry trunk show for charity. And she was just as fabulous and wonderful as ever. I always feel like sh*t when I’m around her. It’s just ingrained, years later.”
John and Bo Derek then began a career of co-productions. John would get her to add some spice to his low-budget films by showing off her body. This created hype for his movies, but mostly Bo because he was a sensation within Hollywood.
John Derek Inspired Her Braided Hair Look
Even though John Derek did not direct or produce her most famous film, “10,” he was responsible for the...