Bo Derek is an actress and producer from the United States who is most known for being one of the most popular sex icons of the 1970s and 1980s. With films like ’10,’ ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man,’ and ‘Bolero,’ she created her famous image. She was born Mary Cathleen Collins in California, and as a high school student, she became a wild child who skipped courses to hitchhike to the beach. When she was 16, she dropped out of high school after receiving an offer to star in John Derek’s film “Fantasies.” Despite the fact that John was 30 years her senior and married, they quickly fell in love. After the couple married, Cathleen changed her name to Bo Derek and had a Hollywood makeover. Her first major part was in the film ’10,’ which cemented her reputation as a sexual icon. She went on to star 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 performance was repeatedly panned. She began dating actor John Corbett a few years after her husband died. ‘5 Weddings,’ an Indian-American comedy, will be released in 2017.
Childhood and Adolescence
Bo Derek was born Mary Cathleen Collins in Long Beach, California, on November 20, 1956. Her parents had four children, the eldest of them is her.
Her father, Paul Collins, was a business executive, and her mother, Norma Collins, worked as a make-up artist and hairdresser for Swedish American actress Ann-Margret. Her parents then split, and her mother married Bobby Bass, an American stunt performer.
Mary Cathleen Collins went to Harbor City, California’s Narbonne High School and George S. Patton Continuation School. She used to skip classes and hitchhike to the beach when she was in high school. Finally, she dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to begin filming her first feature film in Greece.
The career of Bo Derek
Mary Cathleen Collins began her acting career when she was 16 years old, in 1973. Simultaneously, she began dating her director, John Derek, who was 30 years her older and later became her husband and the man who guided 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 superb looks in provocative clothes and nude scenes.
Long-running conflicts delayed the film’s release until 1981, but by that time, Cathleen had established herself as an actress and was married to John Derek’s wife, Bo Derek.
In 1977, director Michael Anderson engaged her in a minor role in the horror picture ‘Orca,’ which was only moderately successful at the box office.
Bo Derek featured in Blake Edwards’ romantic comedy picture ’10,’ which was released in 1979. Derek’s acting career as a sex symbol began with her dream sequence cameo in a delicate skin-colored swimming outfit in the film, which also starred Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews. The movie was a great box office hit.
She then starred alongside Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins in the tragic comedy picture ‘A Change of Seasons’ (1980). The picture was only moderately successful at the box office.
Meanwhile, Bo Derek posed for the ‘Playboy’ magazine, first in August 1980 and then again in September 1981, after achieving the position of a sex icon.
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 dressed up as Jane Parker in revealing jungle outfits and even appeared to be naked.
Despite its great box office success, the picture was not favorably received by reviewers.
She went on to make regular appearances on magazine covers and television discussion shows for the next two years due to a lack of serious film offers.
In 1984, she starred in her husband’s film ‘Bolero,’ which was directed by him. Because of the film’s intense sexual and nudity material, it received an X-rating. Her performance was panned, and the picture bombed at the box office. Nonetheless, it is one of her most well-known films.
After a five-year hiatus from film, she returned in 1989 with the comic fantasy ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It,’ directed by her husband for the final time. Her performance earned her yet another ‘Worst Actress’ award, and the film was a box-office flop.
After a few years, she was cast in the television movies ‘Hot Chocolate’ (1992) and ‘Shattered Image’ (1993). (1994). With the film ‘Woman of Desire,’ she made a comeback to the big screen (1994).
Bo Derek starred in the comedy film ‘Tommy Boy’ in 1995. Although the film was a commercial success, her performance garnered her a nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. Later that year, she appeared in four episodes of ‘Wind on Water’ as a guest star.
She made an appearance on ‘The Drew Carey Show’ in 1999. Since 2000, he has had cameo appearances on episodes 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 also starred in feature 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,’ directed by Namrata Singh Gujral, is an Indian-American comedic drama film that she will appear in 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 legislation.
Major Projects of Bo Derek
Bo Derek starred as Jenny Hanley in the romantic comedy ’10’ in 1979. Her appearance in a dream sequence wearing a revealing skin-colored swimming costume instantly established her as a sex idol. The picture was both critically and financially successful.
In 1981, she portrayed Jane Parker in the film ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man.’ The focus of the film was on Jane’s character rather than Tarzan’s. The film began her her Hollywood career, with her appearing in nude and suggestive jungle costumes. Her performance was harshly critiqued, despite the fact that the film was a box office triumph.
She starred in ‘Bolero,’ directed by her husband John Derek, in 1984. She portrayed a female protagonist character whose sexual awakening leads her to travel the globe in pursuit of the ideal partner. The film received an X-rating due to its sexual and naked material. The picture was panned by critics, and her acting was panned as well.
Achievements & Awards
Bo Derek was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best New Star in a Motion Picture in 1980.
She earned the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress three times: in 1982 for ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man,’ 1985 for ‘Bolero,’ and 1993 for ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It’ (1991).
She’s also been nominated twice for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress, for ‘Tommy Boy’ in 1996 and ‘The Master of Disguise’ in 2002.
She was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Worst Actress of the Century Award in March 2000, alongside Madonna, Brooke Shields, and others.
Personal History and Legacy
Mary Cathleen Collins began dating John Derek, a married actor and director 30 years her senior, when she was 16 years old. 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 she turned eighteen and married on June 10, 1976. Cathleen changed her name to Bo Derek, and the pair married for 22 years, until John died in 1998.
Bo became involved with actor John Corbett a few years after his death.
She is a horse lover and rider, and she owns a champion pure Portuguese mare named Gaiata.
Estimated Net worth
Bo Derek is a $40 million dollar actress and model from the United States.
Trivia
‘Bo Derek’s Bless the Beasts’ is her pet care and pampering products company. Dog shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, and fur polishes are sold by the company.