Children of the 1970s hold dear memories of Bo Derek. With her trademark golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and braided hairstyles that banished any bad associations, she was one of the most gorgeous bombshells of her day. Since her brief moment of fame, a lot of people have been interested in learning more about her life, including where she ended up, why she stopped acting, and what her present circumstances are. Check out what Bo is doing these days.
Bo Derek’s Formative Years
Before she was known as Bo Derek, Mary Cathleen Collins was born on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California. Working-class parents reared Mary in a conventional American home. Her mother was a cosmetics artist, while her father was a sales executive. When Mary was a teenager, she was very interested in two things. She loved horses and was first and foremost a passionate horsewoman. She would proudly display her talents as she competed in numerous contests. She loved performing as well. She chose to enroll in acting classes in order to hone such skills.
Bo made an appearance in the 1977 film Orca. A large killer whale was seen biting off her leg in this Jaws-like movie. Her real ascent to fame, however, was primarily credited to Blake Edwards’ 1979 film “10.” Her distinctive blond braided hair began to stick out at this stage. After this one, she didn’t pursue a career in action-packed, risk-taking films. Among these were the movies “Ghosts Can’t Do It” (1990), “Bolero” (1984), and “Tarzan, The Ape Man” (1981).
partnership with John Derek
Bo first made the director John Derek, who would eventually become her husband, when she was just 16 years old. At the time, she was married to Linda Evans. It was only after a few years that they began dating. But in order to avoid the strict American regulations, they had to go to Mexico and Europe while Bo was still a child.
Soon later, John and Bo Derek tied the knot at the ages of 48 and 19, respectively. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Bo stated that she frequently felt guilty when Linda was around.I was at least partly to blame for some significant agony Linda Evans endured, according to Bo. She had been really thoughtful and courteous. Remarkably, I didn’t see her until yesterday. We were at a jewelry trunk show for charity. She was still as wonderful and delightful as ever. I always feel like sh*t when I’m with her. It’s still very much ingrained even years later.
Following that, John and Bo Derek began collaborating on projects. John would persuade her to show off her body in an effort to add some spice to his low-budget productions. This brought attention to his movies, but mostly to Bo because he was a well-known figure in Hollywood.
John Derek Was the Source of Her Braided Hairstyle Inspiration
John Derek designed the braided style for her most famous movie, “10,” although he did not direct or create it. He suggested that Bo show Blake some of his photos so that the man could judge them based on their appearance. She most certainly did. It was the late 1970s, and I asked, “How are you going to change the way you look since everything was fluffy and I’m blonde?” Bo Derek said, “I’ve always thought that would be a terrific look for me; John is a fantastic photographer.””And we tried it out. “Why don’t you show Blake these photos and see if he’ll be interested?” he said at that point. It would look great on you and be quite appropriate for the role.
Unfortunately, in 1998, John Derek passed away from a cardiovascular disease. He was seventy-one years old when he died. Bo stated that after his death, she never imagined that she would reestablish contact with anyone. The loss had devastated her.
Bo Derek, the Equestrian and Humanitarian
Bo Derek’s early passion for horseback riding seems to take precedence over her later years of fame. Even though Bo’s acting career was at its pinnacle, she made the decision to give it up. Instead, she became an activist and supporter of animal welfare. She worked very hard to protect and preserve the animals.
Bo Derek is not simply an animal lover. She also received an honorary appointment from the VA as the National Rehabilitation Special Events chair.Derek states that “VA’s National Rehabilitation Special Events promote the healing of body and spirit, which helps veterans improve their independence and live higher quality lives.” “I am deeply honored and moved to serve as the honorary chair of a truly noble cause on behalf of America’s veterans once again.”
Bo is currently married to John Corbett, the star of “Sex in the City.” They have been together for more than 20 years. They decided not to make any public announcements about their desire to marry in secret, in front of just their closest friends and family.
I Chose Not to Include My Daughter-in-Law on a Family Vacation, and I Believe My Decision Was Justified
But every trip was a reminder of how connected we were and how much we valued this time together. It was a break from our everyday lives, a chance to let loose and just be, at least for some time.
“Mom, do you remember that time at the beach house when Kayla fell off the dock?” Evelyn would laugh, nudging her sister.
“Don’t remind me!” Kayla groaned, but she couldn’t help smiling. “I still can’t believe you all left me in the water like that.”
“We didn’t leave you, sweetheart. We were laughing too hard to pull you out,” I would tease, shaking my head.
These moments were precious, and I held onto them fiercely. But things started to change when Liam, my only son, got married to Beth.
Beth was sweet when they first met. Quiet, reserved, but kind-hearted. I was genuinely happy for them, and when they got married, I welcomed her into our family with open arms. Naturally, I invited her to join us on our girls’ trips. I wanted her to feel included, to be a part of our little tradition. It felt right at the time.
At first, Beth fit in well enough. She was always polite, maybe a little shy, but I thought she’d warm up eventually. She wasn’t as chatty as my girls, but she seemed to enjoy the trips. We all tried to make her feel comfortable.
“So, Beth,” Kayla asked one afternoon as we sat in a café on one of our trips. “What was it like growing up in Maine? I’ve always wanted to visit.”
Beth smiled softly, twirling the straw in her iced coffee. “It was nice. Quiet. Not much to do in my town, but the summers were beautiful.”
The conversation felt a bit forced, but we all chalked it up to Beth needing time to adjust. She’d become part of our family, and I wanted her to feel like she belonged.
But after Beth gave birth to her son, Lucas, things changed. She gained a lot of weight during pregnancy, which isn’t unusual. However, eight years later, she still hadn’t lost the baby weight.
I noticed how much it was affecting her, not just physically but in the way she moved and interacted with us. It was becoming harder to include her in our trips.
One day, we were out shopping. It was supposed to be a fun, lighthearted afternoon, just like old times. We’d hit the mall, grabbed lunch, and made our way through the stores, chatting and laughing. But Beth kept falling behind.
I glanced back and saw her sitting on a bench near the entrance of a department store. She looked exhausted, wiping the sweat from her brow. “You guys go ahead,” she said, breathing heavily. “I’ll catch up.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow at me, trying to hide her frustration. “Mom, do we need to wait again?”
I sighed. “Let’s just give her a few minutes.”
But those few minutes turned into long stretches of waiting. We’d walk ahead, browse through the racks, and eventually circle back to find Beth still sitting there. It was becoming a pattern — and not just on that day. Every trip we went on, we had to slow down, stop more often, and accommodate her.
By the time we left the mall that day, the mood had shifted. What was supposed to be a carefree afternoon felt strained, and my girls were clearly frustrated.
“Mom, I hate to say it, but these trips aren’t the same anymore,” Kayla said as we loaded the shopping bags into the car.
“I know,” I replied, running a hand through my hair. “I just… I don’t want to leave her out.”
Evelyn nodded, her face softening. “We get it. But we can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair to us either.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I knew they were right. The truth was, Beth’s presence had begun to change the dynamic of our trips, and not for the better.
We were holding back, compromising our enjoyment to accommodate her. And it wasn’t just about walking slower or sitting more. It felt like the whole energy of our outings was different.
The tipping point came when we started planning our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard. It’s a tradition we’ve had for years — my favorite time of the year.
The fall colors, the smell of apples in the air, the laughter as we wandered through the orchard picking fruit. It was something we all looked forward to.
As we sat around the kitchen table, Evelyn looked up from her phone. “So, are we inviting Beth this year?”
I hesitated. We all knew what that would mean. Long breaks, slow walks, and probably missing out on some of the things we enjoyed most about the trip.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I finally said, my voice low. “It’s a lot of walking, and… well, you know.”
Kayla sighed with relief. “I’m glad you said it, Mom. It’s been hard with her.”
“We haven’t had a proper girls’ day in so long,” Lauren added, looking at her sisters. “I miss the way things used to be.”
The truth was staring me in the face, and there was no avoiding it.
That’s when I made the decision not to invite Beth. It wasn’t easy, but I told myself it was for the best. My daughters deserved a day to relax and enjoy themselves without constantly having to adjust to Beth’s limitations.
The day of the trip came, and it was perfect. The weather was crisp, the leaves were golden and red, and we spent the entire day walking through the orchard, picking apples, and laughing.
We didn’t have to stop or slow down. It was like the old days, just me and my girls. I even posted a few pictures on Facebook, not thinking much of it.
But later that night, my phone rang. It was Beth.
I took a deep breath before answering. “Hi, Beth.”
“Lilian, I saw the pictures on Facebook,” she said, her voice tense. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
I felt my stomach drop. I knew this conversation was coming, but I wasn’t prepared. “Oh, it was just a small trip,” I stammered. “Nothing big.”
“But I’m family,” Beth said, her voice rising. “Why didn’t you invite me?”
There it was. The question I had been dreading. I could’ve lied, made up some excuse, but what would be the point? The truth was staring me in the face, and there was no avoiding it.
“Beth,” I said softly, trying to choose my words carefully. “It’s not that we don’t want you there. It’s just… well, the walking. You’ve needed a lot of breaks, and it’s made it hard for us to enjoy the trips the way we used to.”
Silence hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.
“So, you didn’t invite me because of my weight?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I swallowed hard. “Yes,” I admitted, guilt washing over me. “It’s been difficult. We’ve had to change the way we do things, and… I didn’t want to say anything, but it’s affected our trips.”
Beth was quiet for a moment, and I could feel the hurt radiating through the phone. “I thought I was part of this family,” she finally said, her voice trembling. “I thought you cared about me.”
“I do care about you, Beth—”
“No, you don’t,” she interrupted. “If you did, you wouldn’t have excluded me like this. You wouldn’t make me feel like an outsider.”
And with that, she hung up. I sat there, staring at the phone, my heart heavy with regret.
Later that night, Liam texted me. “Mom, Beth’s really hurt. You need to apologize.”
I read the text over and over, feeling torn. Should I apologize? Was I wrong to protect this time with my daughters? I wasn’t sure anymore.
The next morning, I talked to the girls. “Do you think I was too harsh?” I asked as we sat around the kitchen table.
“No, Mom,” Evelyn said, shaking her head. “We love Beth, but it’s not fair to us either. Our trips haven’t been the same.”
Kayla nodded. “We just want to enjoy ourselves like we used to. You did the right thing.”
Their reassurance helped, but I couldn’t shake the guilt. I didn’t want to hurt Beth, but I couldn’t ignore the strain her presence had put on our trips.
I’d reached my limit. Maybe I could’ve handled it better, maybe I should’ve been kinder, but the truth was out now.
I still don’t know if I made the right decision. All I wanted was to protect the bond I had with my daughters. But now I wonder if that decision has cost me something far greater.
Do you think I handled it correctly? What would you have done in my place?
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