It’s hard to grow older, especially if you’ve been known as a beauty your entire life. Such is the case for actress Bo Derek, whose real name is Mary Cathleen Collins. “I made it up!” she says in a recent article on her life. “I was surrounded by a lot of artists, and I didn’t like the name of Cathy Collins.” Like some other rare #11 FCALs in Hollywood, Derek didn’t pursue acting, but had it fall in her lap. When just 17 years of age, she met photographer and director John Derek, who was 30 years older and fell in love with her face. Ironically, he was married at the time to another #11 FCAL, Linda Evans, and left Evans for Derek. They remained married till his death from a heart attack in 1998.
But back to aging, Bo went on to say, “I realize how artificial it is, beauty. I realize that it doesn’t last forever, that’s for sure. Aging is really hard. And it’s tough. Bette Davis (#15 FCIL) was right; it’s not for sissies, it really isn’t.” To be sure, #11s are typically big on maintaining an attractive appearance. Think of Elizabeth Taylor, Faith Hill, Paula Abdul, Health Locklear, and Brooke Shields. For Derek, however, she doesn’t want to lose the feeling expressions of her face by reverting to plastic surgery. “When you look at women who have had plastic surgery, they have lost something – usually an expression, something unique to their face.”
For now Bo Derek spends her time at her 110-acre ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley doing what she enjoys doing most … riding horses (ala late fellow #11 Christopher Reeve). She enjoys the simple life. “I don’t need a lot,” she says. “I never needed the adoration or the praise.”
Written by: Staff
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