Bo Derek

Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins; November 20, 1956) is an American actress and model. She began her career as a child model before deciding to pursue acting on the advice of a talent agent she met through actress Ann-Margret, who was familiar with her parents. In 1973, she appeared in the drama film Once Upon a Love, which was directed by her future husband John Derek and eventually released as Fantasies in 1981. Her breakthrough performance came in the romantic comedy film 10 (1979), which cemented her status as a sex icon and mainstream celebrity. The role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year – Actress. Derek went on to star in three more films directed by John Derek: Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), all of which were critically panned. Her other credits include the comedy-drama film A Change of Seasons (1980), the American buddy comedy film Tommy Boy (1995), and the telenovela-adapted nighttime soap opera Fashion House (2006). Derek has championed a diverse range of philanthropic causes. A fixture of the early 2000s, she served much of the decade as the honorary chairperson for the Veterans Affairs' National Rehabilitation Special Events, which help disabled veterans overcome their limitations through sports and competition. In 2002, she was appointed to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees by President George W. Bush. A longtime WildAid ambassador, Derek was named in 2006 as the special envoy of the secretary of state for wildlife trafficking issues by Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick. In 2008, she was appointed a commissioner of the California Horse Racing Board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a role that reflected her sustained advocacy—including her service as a spokesperson for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act...