Bo Derek, an American actress and model, made a name for herself in the movie industry with her breakthrough role in the romantic comedy “10” in 1979. Since then, she has appeared in various other productions such as “Bolero,” “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” and “Ghosts Can’t Do It” among others.
But Bo’s journey in the acting business started at a young age. At just 16 years old, she was cast in the movie “Fantasies,” directed by John Derek, who would eventually become her first husband. Bo fondly recalls how their paths crossed in an interview with Interview Magazine.
When Bo received a call from her agent about an interview for a role, she excitedly shared the news with her mother. To her surprise, her mother couldn’t help but gush about how handsome the director, John Derek, was. Their meeting confirmed her mother’s words, as Bo was instantly smitten by John’s charm and looks.
John expressed his desire to cast Bo in “Fantasies,” but there was a condition – she had to leave school and travel to Greece for filming. Without hesitation, Bo accepted the offer, and her mother accompanied her as a chaperone to the picturesque island of Mykonos.
Little did they know that Mykonos had more in store for them than just a movie. Despite John being 30 years her senior and married to veteran actress Linda Evans at the time, Bo couldn’t resist falling in love. Their romance blossomed in the foreign land, creating a complicated situation with her mother present.
Bo describes their love as incredible, and John admired her strength even though she was young. After filming in Greece ended, they decided to go public with their relationship and faced the controversies that followed.
To be together, John and Bo had to stay in Europe, as returning to the US would have run afoul of statutory laws. Bo made the difficult decision to drop out of high school and remain with John. Their adventures continued as they traveled across Europe and even met John’s second wife, Ursula Andress, in Switzerland.
Eventually, they returned to California, where they faced judgment and disapproval from Bo’s parents. Despite the challenges, Bo remained devoted to John until his passing. However, she couldn’t escape the guilt of breaking up John’s marriage to Linda Evans. In a 2016 interview with Interview Magazine, Bo candidly admitted that she hated herself for it, and the memory haunted her.
On the other hand, Linda Evans found a silver lining in the divorce. It allowed her to pursue her acting career, leading to her iconic role in “Dynasty.” She looks back on the experience as a turning point that brought her newfound happiness and success.
Despite the guilt that Bo carries, she eventually found love again. She is now happily married to American actor John Corbett. Their relationship started as a simple attraction and comfort, but as time passed, their bond grew stronger. After dating for 20 years, they tied the knot in 2020.
Though Bo and John don’t have children together, it was a conscious decision made by Bo. She believes that children deserve two committed parents, and her unconventional lifestyle wouldn’t have provided that stability. However, she continues to inspire women around the world with her incredible journey in Hollywood.
