Kids who grew up in the 1970s have special memories of Bo Derek. With her stunning golden hair, bright blue eyes, and unique braided hairstyles, she was one of the most beautiful stars of her time. After her short period of fame, many people became curious about her life, wondering where she is now, why she stopped acting, and what she’s up to these days. Let’s see what Bo is doing now.
Bo Derek’s Early Life
Before she became famous as Bo Derek, she was born Mary Cathleen Collins on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California. Mary grew up in a regular American family with working-class parents. Her mom worked as a makeup artist, and her dad was a sales executive. As a teenager, Mary had two big passions: she loved horses and was an enthusiastic horse rider, competing in many events. She also enjoyed acting, so she decided to take acting classes to improve her skills.
Bo made an appearance in the 1977 film Orca. A large killer whale was seen biting off her leg in this Jaws-like movie. Her real ascent to fame, however, was primarily credited to Blake Edwards’ 1979 film “10.” Her distinctive blond braided hair began to stick out at this stage. After this one, she didn’t pursue a career in action-packed, risk-taking films. Among these were the movies “Ghosts Can’t Do It” (1990), “Bolero” (1984), and “Tarzan, The Ape Man” (1981).
partnership with John Derek
Bo first met director John Derek, who later became her husband, when she was only 16 years old. At that time, she was married to Linda Evans. A few years later, Bo and John started dating, but to escape strict American laws, they had to travel to Mexico and Europe while Bo was still a minor.
Eventually, John and Bo Derek got married when they were 48 and 19 years old, respectively. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Bo shared that she often felt guilty when Linda was around. She mentioned that she felt partly responsible for some of the pain Linda went through, as Linda had always been very kind and considerate. Bo even saw Linda recently at a charity jewelry event and noted that Linda was still as lovely and charming as ever. Bo admitted that she still feels bad whenever she’s with Linda, and those feelings have stuck with her over the years.
After that, John and Bo Derek started working together on various projects. John encouraged her to flaunt her body to add some excitement to his low-budget films. This strategy drew attention to his movies, but mostly to Bo, who was already a famous figure in Hollywood.
John Derek Inspired Her Iconic Braided Hairstyle
Even though John Derek didn’t direct or create the movie “10,” he came up with the idea for Bo’s famous braided hairstyle in it. He suggested that Bo show some of his photos to Blake so he could evaluate them based on how they looked. Bo definitely did that. It was the late 1970s, and when I asked, “How are you going to change your look since everything was so fluffy and I’m blonde?” Bo replied, “I’ve always thought that would be a great style for me; John is an amazing photographer.” Then we gave it a try. “Why don’t you show Blake these photos and see if he’s interested?” he suggested. It would look fantastic on you and fit perfectly for the role.
In 1998, John Derek sadly died from heart problems at the age of seventy-one. After he passed away, Bo said she never thought she would talk to anyone again. His death really broke her heart.
Bo Derek, the Equestrian and Humanitarian
Bo Derek loved horseback riding a lot when she was younger, and it was more important to her than her later fame. Even when her acting career was at its highest point, she chose to step away from it. Instead, she focused on being an activist and helping animals. She put in a lot of effort to protect and take care of them.
Bo Derek really loves animals, but that’s not all she does. She was also given a special title by the VA, becoming the National Rehabilitation Special Events chair. Derek believes that these events help veterans heal both physically and emotionally, making it easier for them to be independent and enjoy better lives. She feels very honored to take on this important role for America’s veterans once more.
Bo is married to John Corbett, who is famous for his role in “Sex in the City.” They have been a couple for over 20 years. They chose to keep their wedding private, only inviting their closest friends and family, and didn’t make any big public announcements about it.