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.”