The actress Bo Derek always had a dream to be on the big screen. This dream started coming true when she landed her first film role at just 16 years old, partly through her mother’s connection with Swedish-American actress Ann-Margret.
It was during the filming of this first role that Bo met her future husband, actor and director John Derek. Bo would soon become a household name with her role in the film “10,” mesmerizing audiences with her timeless beauty.
Their relationship attracted a lot of attention due to the vast age gap between them. John was in his fifties when he chose to divorce his then-wife, actress Linda Evans, to be with Bo, who was only seventeen at the time.
Navigating this substantial age difference wasn’t easy, but the couple’s dedication to their love carried them through.
Today, at 66, Bo Derek still feels the weight of her past, expressing regret about her part in ending John and Linda Evans’s marriage, even after all these years.
Bo had an unexpected encounter with Linda at a charity jewelry trunk show. She found Linda as gracious and beautiful as ever, which stirred a sense of sadness within her.
Bo and John’s romantic journey began when she was a teenager, and he was in his thirties. To avoid legal scrutiny due to their age difference, they split their time between Mexico and Europe.
After about two years of courtship, they decided to get married in Las Vegas in 1976.
Bo’s iconic cornrow-style blonde braids became a huge part of her image. It was actually John’s idea for Bo to adopt this unique hairstyle to stand out from the puffy hair trends of the late 1970s.
John believed this style would distinguish Bo in photographs and her future career. Bo followed his advice and her manager, Blake, gave it the green light. This hairstyle soon became one of her signature looks.
Bo Derek rose to stardom in the 1980s, starring in several films directed by John Derek, including “Tarzan, The Ape Man” (1981), “Bolero” (1984), and “Ghosts Can’t Do It” (1990).
While Bo was initially reluctant to remarry, she eventually found love again with actor John Corbett, who was 60 at the time they started dating. After 15 years together, they tied the knot in 2020. Sadly, John Derek passed away in 1998 at the age of 71.
Although they were together for a long time, Bo and John Corbett kept their romance alive with regular dates and quality time with friends, often centered around grilling.
Bo has always emphasized that their relationship was filled with laughter, and even after many years, they were still seen holding hands.
Bo’s life has been deeply connected to her love for horses. She penned her autobiography titled “Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses” to share how much these magnificent animals have influenced her life.
Bo is also a passionate animal activist, working hard to end horse slaughter and improve animal welfare worldwide.
Today, Bo lives in California. Despite her status as a celebrated actress, she ardently continues her passion for horses and remains dedicated to advocating for their rights.
Bo says that the rewarding and meaningful life she leads today is all thanks to the cherished time she has spent with horses.
