Bo Derek

Bo Derek- Biography

Bo Derek is an American film and television actress and producer best recognized for being one of the 1970s and 1980s’ most renowned sex symbols. With films like ’10,’ ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man,’ and ‘Bolero,’ she created her famous image. In high school, she became a wild girl and skipped courses to hitchhike to the beach as Mary Cathleen Collins in California, USA. She dropped out of high school at the age of 16 when she was offered a role in John Derek’s film ‘Fantasies.’ Despite the fact that John was 30 years her senior and married, they quickly got romantically connected.

Cathleen later married and changed her name to Bo Derek after receiving a Hollywood makeover. Her first major part was in the film ’10,’ which established her as a sex legend. She went on to feature in films directed by her husband, John, such as ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man,’ ‘Bolero,’ and ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It.’ Despite the fact that some of her films were box office successes, her acting was frequently criticized. She began dating actor John Corbett a few years after her husband died. ‘5 Weddings,’ an Indian-American comedy, will be released in 2017.

Bo Derek- Birth, Age, Ethnicity, Siblings, Education

Mary Cathleen Collins, better known as Bo Derek, was born on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California, USA. She is the eldest of her parents’ four children. Her father, Paul Collins, was a catamaran manufacturer’s executive, and her mother, Norma Collins, was a make-up artist and hairdresser for Swedish American actress Ann-Margret. Her parents split later in life, and her mother married American stunt performer Bobby Bass.

Mary Cathleen Collins went to Narbonne High School and then to George S. Patton Continuation School in Harbor City, California. She used to skip classes and hitchhike to the beach when she was in high school. Finally, at the age of 16, she dropped out of high school to begin filming her first feature film in Greece.

Bo Derek- Professional Career

Mary Cathleen Collins began her acting career at the age of 16 in 1973. Simultaneously, she began dating her director, John Derek, who was 30 years her senior and later became her husband and oversaw her acting career. ‘Fantasies,’ an English love drama directed by John Derek, was her first film. The film, which was shot in Greece, showcased debutant Cathleen’s good looks in daring clothes and naked scenes. Prolonged conflicts delayed the film’s release until 1981, but by then, Cathleen was already a well-known actress, as was John Derek’s wife, Bo Derek.

In 1977, director Michael Anderson cast her in a minor role in the horror picture ‘Orca,’ which was a modest box-office hit. Bo Derek featured in the romantic comedy film ’10,’ directed by Blake Edwards, in 1979. Derek’s acting career as a sex symbol was begun in the film, which also starred Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews, with her dream sequence cameo wearing a delicate skin-colored swimming outfit. The picture was a big hit at the box office.

Following that, she co-starred in the dramatic-comedy film ‘A Change of Seasons’ (1980) alongside Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins. The picture was only moderately successful at the box office. Meanwhile, having achieved the role of a sex icon, Bo Derek posed for ‘Playboy’ magazine, first in August 1980 and then again in September 1981. Bo Derek made her first significant appearance in a Hollywood film in 1981, in her husband’s R-rated MGM feature ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man.’

She played the part of Jane Parker while dressed in racy jungle outfits and even appeared naked. Although the picture was a tremendous box office success, it was not favorably reviewed by reviewers. She had no big film offers for the next two years, so she made regular appearances on magazine covers and television discussion shows. In 1984, she appeared in her husband’s film ‘Bolero.’ The film received an X-rating due to its explicit sex and nudity material. Her performance was panned, and the picture was a box-office flop. Nonetheless, it is one of her most well-known films.

After a five-year hiatus, she returned to the screen with the comic fantasy ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It’ (1989), directed for the final time by her husband. For her performance, she received yet another ‘Worst Actress’ award, and the film was a box-office flop.
After a few years, she participated in the television films ‘Hot Chocolate’ (1992) and Shattered Image (1993). (1994). She made a comeback on the big screen with the film ‘Woman of Desire’ (1994). Bo Derek appeared in the comedy film ‘Tommy Boy’ in 1995. The film was a financial success, but her performance garnered her a nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. Later that year, she appeared as a guest star on four episodes of ‘Wind on Water.’

She made an appearance on ‘The Drew Carey Show’ in 1999. Since 2000, he has made cameo appearances on television shows such as ‘Family Law,’ ‘Queen of Swords,’ ‘Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place,’ ‘Lucky,’ ‘Still Standing,’ ‘7th Heaven,’ ‘Fashion House,’ ‘Chuck,’ ‘CSI: Miami,’ ‘Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!,’ and others. She has also acted in films such as ‘Frozen with Fear’ (2001), ‘The Master of Disguise’ (2002), ‘Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003), ‘Life in the Balance’ (2004), ‘Highland Park’ (2012), and others.

‘Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses,’ her autobiography, was published in February 2002. ‘5 Weddings,’ an Indian American comedy-drama film directed by Namrata Singh Gujral, will be released in 2017. She is a member of the California Horse Racing Board and a spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Institute’s campaign to end horse slaughter through suitable legislation.

Major Projects

Bo Derek starred as Jenny Hanley in the 1979 romantic comedy ’10’. Her entrance in a dream sequence wearing a scant skin-colored bathing outfit instantly established her as an iconic sex symbol. The picture was a critical and commercial success. In 1981, she played Jane Parker in the film ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man.’ Instead of Tarzan, the film focused on Jane’s character. The film began her Hollywood career, with her appearing in nude and suggestive jungle costumes. Despite being a box-office triumph, her performance was heavily critiqued.

‘Bolero,’ directed by husband John Derek, was released in 1984. She portrayed the female protagonist character, whose sexual awakening sends her on a journey around the world in quest of the right lover. The film’s sexual and naked scenes earned it an X-rating. The picture was panned by critics, and her acting was panned as well.

Achievements & Awards

• Bo Derek was nominated for Best New Star in ’10’ at the 1980 Golden Globe Awards.
• She received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress three times: for ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man’ (1982), ‘Bolero’ (1985), and ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It’ (1996). (1991).
• She was also nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress twice, first in 1996 for ‘Tommy Boy’ and once in 2002 for ‘The Master of Disguise.’
• She was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Worst Actress of the Century Award in March 2000, alongside Madonna, Brooke Shields, and others.

Bo Derek- Relationship, Married Life

Mary Cathleen Collins, then 16, began seeing John Derek, a married actor and director 30 years her senior, in 1973. To avoid issues and punishment for dating a juvenile, John divorced his then-wife, actress Linda Evans, and relocated to Germany with Cathleen.
The pair returned to the United States shortly after her 18th birthday and married on June 10, 1976. Cathleen changed her name to Bo Derek and the couple married for 22 years until John died in 1998. Bo began dating actor John Corbett a few years after his death.
She adores horses and enjoys riding; she has a champion pure Portuguese mare named Gaiata.

Trivia

• ‘Bo Derek’s Bless the Beasts’ is a pet care pampering products company she runs. Dog shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, and fur polishes are available from the company.

Also Read, Concetta Monti, Chani Natasha, and Peachprc.