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We laughed when saw that interview in 1985. That toss-your-hair-over-your-face-and-giggle passive-aggressive thing (a la Farrah, Suzanne Somers, others).
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But Bo didn't and doesn't possess the charisma of Farrah or Suzanne.
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Gore Vidal, of all people, said that Bo Derek was the only person he knew of who was considered a superstar yet he couldn't think of a single movie she was in.
I guess he never saw "10".
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I remember my mother and father talking about Bo Derek when I snugged into fancying Farrah Fawcett, but neither of them ever mentioned anything other than "10" to me as a movie she was in.
Neither were especially fond of Bo. They both preferred Farrah.
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Bo has this thing about her, at least on screen, that you just don't like. (Contrary to what Linda says in that video -- in fact, Linda herself has it; Bo doesn't).
It's an icky female Scorpio thing Bo has, although they say she's nice-ish in real life.
Of course, Linda is a Scorpio, too. But female Scorpios often have this darkish Vampira thing that's vaguely "ugh" -- or they're willowy, like Linda.
Bo manages to be both. So it's weird.
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From the interviews I've seen, Bo seems to a relatively likable woman. I often recall one she did with Joan Rivers when she was hosting THE LATE SHOW. Bo had brought a roll of shiny, silver duct tape for Joan's mouth just in case Joan started doing her well-known jokes about different celebrities.Bo has this thing about her, at least on screen, that you just don't like. (Contrary to what Linda says in that video -- in fact, Linda herself has it; Bo doesn't).
It's an icky female Scorpio thing Bo has, although they say she's nice-ish in real life.
Of course, Linda is a Scorpio, too. But female Scorpios often have this darkish Vampira thing that's vaguely "ugh" -- or they're willowy, like Linda.
Bo manages to be both. So it's weird.
But was it a put on??? Did Bo really care??? Do I really care???
Anyway...
Bo certainly isn't an actress by any measure. Admittedly, I've seen very little of her work, but what I have seen hasn't shown me anything to prove to me that she has some ounce of talent. Her "art" movies she did with hubby John Derek are trash, and the other things I've seen her in are mostly laughable -- even when they're not supposed to be. I guess about the only thing I like Bo in was TOMMY BOY from the mid-90s. Oh, MALIBU'S MOST WANTED was funny, too, but I haven't seen either of those movies in ages. She wasn't the star in either of them anyway.
One thing I do like is how Bo, Linda, and John's other prior wife, Swedish beauty Ursula Andress, all got along and were friends. Yeah, it's kind of weird, but it's good they didn't make it awkward, I suppose.
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His first wife was Patty, I think. All four of them get along.
Later on, I think Bo could have maybe had a career. But I don't think she really wanted one.
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She didn't seem particularly interested during her prime, either. She seems to have preferred hiding away with John on their ranch and riding horses. They didn't want children, so they spoiled their animals instead. She only worked with John during the 1980s (her peak decade) and she worked relatively little outside of what she's done with him. Too bad she didn't stumble upon a sitcom that might've done her good.His first wife was Patty, I think. All four of them get along.
Later on, I think Bo could have maybe had a career. But I don't think she really wanted one.
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I remember Linda saying in an interview once how captivating Bo was on film. But she wasn't.
Bo seems awkward in the roles I've seen her play. She never really seems relaxed or authentic. That, I'd assume, is the consequences of her lack of acting ability. But I could be wrong. She may just have stage fright. I don't think she ever really wanted to be a movie star.
Probably the most relaxed and "real" I've seen Bo was in the Reelz documentary I've linked above. She seems level-headed and alert in the interview pieces. But such an appearance is rare, or so I would say.
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I don't believe it for a second when Bo claims that John Derek was really "hurt" too by the divorce. (Unless it's how he looked to their friends). Even if she's sincere when she says it.
Break-ups happen, and one shouldn't objectify or dehumanize the other just because the relationship has ended (and Linda hasn't) unless it's warranted. But the thing Derek "loved" so much about Bo was her youth -- not just her perkier bosom, but her controllability (later, once she became more independent and assertive, he was okay with it, because he was crumbling and didn't mind the support).
But Linda was in the unfortunate position of genuinely loving the man. And for a guy like John Derek, so aloof -- focused and charming when needed but aloof and diffident -- someone who genuinely loves you is a pain in the ass. Or arse. Because true reciprocity, or the potential or expectation of it, seems like a threat to that "control".
Hence, the partner must be marginalized, devalued in certain ways, and absolutely cast aside.
Not everybody wants to be loved. The implicit intimacy becomes repugnant, or at least tiresome and romantically boring. It feels like a threat to his sense of cold autonomy.
As they say, familiarity breeds contempt. And all John had to offer was familiarity -- attentive and not-disinterested, but mere familiarity.
I'm sure he never really thought about Linda after she was gone. Even if all his wives were friendly with one another.
Basically, Linda was too good for him -- and she didn't want to know it. But he did know it.
Poignantly sad, because John and Linda always look more like "a couple" than he does with any of his other wives... And that's not just Linda -- it's the two of them together.
Ah, the human condition.
Break-ups happen, and one shouldn't objectify or dehumanize the other just because the relationship has ended (and Linda hasn't) unless it's warranted. But the thing Derek "loved" so much about Bo was her youth -- not just her perkier bosom, but her controllability (later, once she became more independent and assertive, he was okay with it, because he was crumbling and didn't mind the support).
But Linda was in the unfortunate position of genuinely loving the man. And for a guy like John Derek, so aloof -- focused and charming when needed but aloof and diffident -- someone who genuinely loves you is a pain in the ass. Or arse. Because true reciprocity, or the potential or expectation of it, seems like a threat to that "control".
Hence, the partner must be marginalized, devalued in certain ways, and absolutely cast aside.
Not everybody wants to be loved. The implicit intimacy becomes repugnant, or at least tiresome and romantically boring. It feels like a threat to his sense of cold autonomy.
As they say, familiarity breeds contempt. And all John had to offer was familiarity -- attentive and not-disinterested, but mere familiarity.
I'm sure he never really thought about Linda after she was gone. Even if all his wives were friendly with one another.
Basically, Linda was too good for him -- and she didn't want to know it. But he did know it.
Poignantly sad, because John and Linda always look more like "a couple" than he does with any of his other wives... And that's not just Linda -- it's the two of them together.
Ah, the human condition.
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Bo Derek interviews Bill Maher: