Bo Derek

Bo Derek
Derek in 2010
Born	Mary Cathleen Collins (1956-11-20) November 20, 1956 Long Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1977–present
Spouse	John Derek (m. 1976-1998) (his death)
Website	http://www.officialboderek.com/

Mary Cathleen Collins (born November 20, 1956), better known as Bo Derek, is an American film and television actress, model, and sex symbol, known for her role as Jenny Hanley in the 1979 comedy film 10. However, Derek's film career soon faltered; her later films, including, Bolero (1984) and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), were poorly received by both the public and critics. Today she makes only the occasional film, television or documentary appearance.

Early life

Derek was born Mary Cathleen Collins in Long Beach, California. She is of Irish, French, Dutch and Welsh descent. Her father, Paul Collins, was a Hobie Cat executive, and her mother, Norma Bass, was a make-up artist and hairdresser to Ann-Margret. Derek's parents divorced, and her mother married American stunt performer Bobby Bass.

Derek attended Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California. She then attended George S. Patton Continuation School, which is adjacent to Narbonne.

Career

Acting

Her first acting job was a leading role in her husband, John Derek's R-rated film, Fantasies, which was filmed in 1973. However, the film wasn't easy to get a studio to buy, therefore, the film was released to theaters until 1981. To this day not many believe Derek was in the feature, but, however, she is; she was billed as Kathleen Collins. She made her second film, 1977's horror film Orca; which was created as a spin-off of the 1975 horror film, Jaws. Since Orca was Derek's first appearance on the screen, this film is often been cited as her "film debut".

Derek first came to prominence when she co-starred in the 1979 Blake Edwards film 10, in which Dudley Moore's character is torn between his love for Julie Andrews's character and his fascination with Derek's character. Her appearance shot her to instant stardom and status as a sex symbol. Her beaded and plaited cornrow hairstyle in the film was widely copied and became eponymous. As a result of the film, Bo received a Golden Globe nomination for new star of the year.

Some of Bo Derek's subsequent films were not well-received by either the public or critics. Her follow-up to the smash-hit 10, was A Change of Seasons, which co-starred Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins. The film was critically panned and was a box-office failure. For the 1981 film Tarzan, the Ape Man, the producers of the film were actually sued by the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate over the name of the film, as Derek's role and physique seemed to overshadow the focus on Tarzan himself.

She followed this film with the sexually-charged Bolero, in 1984, about a young woman who takes a trip around the world looking for someone to take her virginity. The film was originally rated X, but was later released as rated-R. It would be five years before Derek would appear on the screen again, playing subsequent role in her husband's production of Ghosts Can't Do It, in 1989.

She made the first of many appearances in Playboy, starting with the March 1980 issue. Her first pictorial (among others) was photographed by then husband John, on a secluded beach along an unnamed area of the Colorado River. The twelve page spread featured a few with her and her pet greyhound together jogging and sunbathing, as well as her sailing and swimming in the river, all nude. She appeared on the cover in a bikini.

She won a Golden Raspberry Worst Actress Award for Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984) and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), and was nominated in 2000 as the "Worst Actress of the Century". She appeared as Jamie Kennedy's mom and Ryan O'Neal's wife in Malibu's Most Wanted (2003). Derek was a judge at the Miss Universe 2004 pageant.

In 2006, she became a television personality, with one of the leading roles in the telenovela drama series Fashion House. The series ran for 65 episodes, though, Derek herself appeared in only 40 episodes.

Political

Visiting a VA hospital in Los Angeles, 2005

Derek is a conservative Republican who supported George H. W. Bush in 1988 and 1992 and campaigned for his son George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and she appeared at both Republican conventions. Derek has also appeared at public events with Republican Congressman David Dreier of Southern California.

When White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten was asked about the nature of his relationship with Bo Derek on the April 30, 2006 edition of Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Bolten identified Derek as a "friend" and as a "strong supporter of the President."

In 2006, Bo Derek was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by President George W. Bush, serving on the Operations Committee.

Personal life

Horse owner and activist

A horse lover and riding enthusiast since childhood, she is the owner of Andalusian horses and is a spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Institute's national campaign to end horse slaughter through passage of federal and state legislation. On February 5, 2002, she published her autobiography entitled Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses (ISBN 0-060-39437-4).

Derek currently serves on the California Horse Racing Board.

Wounded veterans advocate

She is National Honorary Chairperson for Veterans Affairs' National Rehabilitation Special Events. Derek attended the 17th annual Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic held in Snowmass Village, Colorado. In 2003, Derek was presented with the VA's highest honor by Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi. Derek also goes on United Service Organizations (USO) tours. The Special Forces Association named her an honorary Green Beret.

Derek's father, Paul Collins, was a radio operator during the Korean War, and both her stepfather and her late husband, John Derek, were also veterans.

Relationships

On an audition trail, Derek met director John Derek, 30 years her senior. John filed for divorce from his wife, actress Linda Evans, and John and Bo moved to Germany to avoid John being charged with statutory rape under U.S. law due to Bo's being only 16. The couple returned to America soon after Bo's 18th birthday, and they married in 1976. They remained married until his death in 1998.

Since 2002, she has been involved with actor John Corbett.

Acting credits

Film

Film	Year	Role	Notes
Orca	1977	Annie	AKA: Orca: The Killer Whale (for some releases).
10	1979	Jenny Hanley	Her most noted/signature film.
A Change of Seasons	1980	Lindsey Rutledge
Fantasies	1981	Anastasia	Billed as: Kathleen Collins. Filmed in 1973; legally her "film debut".
Tarzan, the Ape Man	1981	Jane Parker	AKA: Searching for Tarzan (filming title). Though the title is "Tarzan" the main focus of the film's plot is Derek's character.
Bolero	1984	Lida MacGillivery
Ghosts Can't Do It	1989	Katie O'Dare Scott
Woman of Desire	1993	Christina Ford
Tommy Boy	1995	Beverly Barish-Burns Calahan
Sunstorm	2001	Victoria Warren
Frozen with Fear	2001	Katherine Sullivan
Horror 101	2001	Miss Allison James
The Master of Disguise	2002	Herself	Cameo appearance
Malibu's Most Wanted	2003	Bess Gluckman
Boom	2003	Herself	Cameo appearance
Life in the Balance	2004	Kathryn Garr
Highland Park	2012	Destiny	post-production

Television

Program	Year	Role	Notes
Hot Chocolate	1992	BJ Cassidy	Television movie
Shattered Image	1994	Helen Allgood	Television movie
Wind on Water	1998	Ciel Connolly	3 episodes
Family Law	2000	Camille Weller	1 episode
Queen of Swords	2000	Mary Rose	1 episode
Murder at the Cannes Film Festival	2000	Thada Pryce	Television movie
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place	2001	Susan Bergen	3 episodes
Lucky	2003	Joan	1 episode
Still Standing	2005	Mrs. Rose Grundy	1 episode
7th Heaven	2003-05	Mrs. Kinkirk	3 episodes
Crusader	2005	Nicola Markham	Television movie
Fashion House	2006	Maria Gianni	40 episodes
The Hunt for the I-5 Killer	2011	Seaver	Television movie

External links

• Official website
• Interview with Bo Derek
• Bo Derek at IMDb