Status: Actress/model who has appeared in films such as “10″, “Tarzan The Ape Man”, “Orca”, “Tommy Boy”, and “Ghosts Can’t Do It.”
DOB: November 20, 1956 In: Long Beach, CA
Hobbies/Interests: “Horses, horses and horses. Travel in connection. I’ve done horse rescue and horse welfare. I’m just a girl who was born horse-crazy [smiles]. Also, boxing. I loved to go to the boxing matches with my husband (John Derek, who passed away in 1998).”
First Job: “Busboy and working the fryer at The Fish Shanty on the pier in Long Beach, CA (age 15).”
First Car: “1964 salmon-pink Ford Falcon convertible.”
Childhood Dream: “Oceanographer. My father (Paul) loved the ocean. He had a dive boat. I loved the ocean and wanted to work with mammals. But the school aspect wasn’t something I was thrilled about. Life took a different turn when I met John. We went off and made a film (“Once Upon A Time”) and never looked back. (They married a year later – she was 17, he was 47).”
Favorite Movies: “Analyze This, Dr. Strangelove, Paul Mazursky’s The Tempest, Apocalypse Now, Hearts Of Darkness.”
Favorite Meal: “Arabic food with friends at their home.”
Musical Tastes: “Pretty varied, I only don’t care much for country. I like rock ‘n roll, The Beatles, Elton John, Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty. Some classical, like most people, I like Mozart.”
Funny Career Memory: “I have so many. One silly, weird one was we were making ‘Tarzan’ in Sri Lanka which was quite primitive. There wasn’t a movie filmed there in 30 years, since Bridge On The River Kwai. We hired a brilliant man to be a gorilla, in a gorilla suit. He had done that popular Samsonite TV commercial. And he was well-known for having studied the gorilla’s movements so well. We brought him over to Sri Lanka at great expense. We filmed a scene where I had gotten into water – Jane was always falling into something! A boa constrictor was trying to suffocate me. So we then asked him to do the scene as the gorilla – he was already on location for a month – and he said, I can’t be in a movie like this. I was in the water with a see-through costume on. He was absolutely serious when he said he wouldn’t put his ape in a movie like that [smiles].”
Greatest Career Moment: “I haven’t had it yet. I don’t know yet. I really haven’t taken my work seriously before. When I feel I’ve done my best work all the way through, it will be my best moment.”
Most Painful Moment: “The criticism of my career never bothered me. When the criticism of John got personal – the personal attacks – that was painful. Unfair. They didn’t know us. People not knowing us making vicious, personal attacks – that hurt.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like courageous people. Not physical feat courageous. I’ve discovered I like people who go against the grain. It’s much easier to conform. I’ve been lucky to meet many of my heroes – who put everything on the line and who do what they believe is right. I’m attracted to their bravery.”
Topics: Actress Model, Apocalypse Now, Arabic Food, Boa Constrictor, Bridge On The River Kwai, Brilliant Man, Childhood Dream, Dr Strangelove, Fish Shanty, Ford Falcon, Gorilla Suit, Hearts Of Darkness, Hobbies Interests, Horse Welfare, John Derek, Matchbox Twenty, Musical Tastes, Paul Mazursky, Rob Thomas Matchbox Twenty, Tarzan The Ape Man
Biofile with Bo Derek | 