Swimming in lakes, jumping out of planes... and falling flat on her face from a chariot before a baying crowd... is life still a perfect ‘Ten’ for the movie star?
What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? ‘"She’s a sack of s**t with blonde hair stuck on the top".’ A friend, who is now an ex-friend, said that to someone else about me when we had a falling out,' said Bo Derek
What is your earliest memory?
I grew up in Long Beach, California, and I remember my younger brother Collin eating snails and being very upset about how he’d kept them in his pocket and then ate them.
What sort of child were you?
I was the oldest of four so I was a bit bossy and I manipulated my siblings shamelessly, but I’ve apologised many times since.
Who would be your dream dinner date?
Bette Davis. She’d smoke a lot, obviously, but I’m fine with other people smoking and she’d be fascinating to chat to. The decisions she made as an actress, really putting her beliefs on the line, were so admirable. And she was so witty. That’s the one thing I wish I had: I wish I had wit but I just don’t.
What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you?
‘She’s a sack of s**t with blonde hair stuck on the top.’ A friend, who is now an ex-friend, said that to someone else about me when we had a falling out and I got to hear about it. I thought it was funny. What do you do in life to make someone say something like that about you?
... and your biggest disappointment?
I tend to look on the bright side of everything, to the point of being absurd, even though I’ve made some questionable decisions. I made a few not-great movies, usually the ones I produced – like Bolero and Tarzan, The Ape Man – that weren’t good for my career or my bank account. It seemed everyone wanted to ‘exploit’ Bo Derek. Now my brain says, ‘You learned from it and you’re better off for it.’
'I’m fighting ageing. Your body changes no matter what you do, but I took up open-water swimming and that’s made a huge difference,' said Bo
What are you scared of?
Skydiving. I did it once and I really didn’t like it. I can’t even say that I’m glad I did it, because it was horrible.
What has been your most embarrassing moment?
There are so many! During the National Horse Show in Seville, Spain, I jumped on a chariot with the great horseman, Mario Lurashci. He took off at full speed, the dirt was hitting me in the face and we slid around the final turn at an impossibly fast gallop. As we came to a stop in front of the royal box, the crowd was screaming and cheering.
Frankly I was grateful to be alive, my legs were rubber. Then, as I stepped off, I looked down and saw that the reins were wrapped around the toe of my boot. There was nothing I could do but fall flat on my face. I’ll never forget the sound of 700 Spaniards gasping in horror. I ungracefully got up and took a very grand bow.
Also, I fall over on red carpets all the time. Once I even got out of a car onto a red carpet, fell, grabbed a pole and did a spin-down, like a pole dancer.
Which living person do you despise the most and why?
There are so many people I could name but I won’t because I don’t want to be killed walking out of here. I’m very capable of despising people and I don’t forgive. I’m quite a happy person hating others.
What are your best character traits – and what are your worst?
I’m a good friend. I’m a loyal friend and that was something I had to learn through hurting friends in the past with thoughtless gossip.
My worst character trait?
Not being a loyal friend. I was inconsiderate but not any more.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I’m fighting ageing. Your body changes no matter what you do, but I took up open-water swimming and that’s made a huge difference. I had back surgery three years ago and the surgeon said the best physical therapy is swimming. That year a friend and I swam the iconic Hellespont in Turkey, a six-kilometre swim from Europe to Asia. Now we have made a promise to each other to choose a beautiful place to swim once a year. This year we will swim in the Spetses Marathon in Greece.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
When I was 15 I fried fish and French fries at a seafood stand on a pier in Long Beach, California. It was so hot and I went home covered in grease. You could literally scrape it off with your fingernails.
Bo Derek is on the board of WildAid. Visit wildaid.org
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