Bo Derek
She became a global symbol of glamour and desire with a single, unforgettable run down a beach in a beaded swimsuit.
Born 1956 (age 70)·American actress·Birthday: November 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born Mary Cathleen Collins, Bo Derek was a California teenager when she met the actor and director John Derek, who would become her husband and manager. Her life pivoted dramatically with the 1979 film '10,' where her portrayal of the idealized fantasy object, Jenny, propelled her to instant fame. The image of her in cornrows and a beige maillot became a cultural touchstone of the era, defining a specific aesthetic of beauty. While subsequent film roles often traded on that same image, she navigated the complexities of being a sex symbol with a quiet, self-possessed grace, later building a second career as an advocate for animal rights and conservative political causes. Her impact lies less in a sprawling filmography and more in that one indelible moment that captured a generation's imagination.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bo was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Bo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year for her breakthrough role in '10.'
- Her braided hairstyle and swimsuit from '10' sparked a major international fashion trend.
- Successfully transitioned her public profile into roles as an author and animal welfare activist.
- Starred in the hit comedy 'Tommy Boy' opposite Chris Farley, showcasing her comedic timing.
Did You Know?
She was a child model and appeared on the cover of 'Time' magazine as a baby with her mother.
She legally changed her name to Bo Derek upon marrying director John Derek.
She served as a special envoy for the U.S. State Department on wildlife trafficking issues.
“I never set out to be a sex symbol. I just set out to be an actress and do good work.”
