The Exciting Life of 80s Icon Bo Derek

Because of the film’s title, reporters and advertisers began describing Bo as a real-life “10.” Hollywood promoted her as a new standard of physical beauty, and the label followed her into interviews, photo shoots, and nearly every discussion of her career.

The attention made her one of the most famous women of the period, but it also created strict expectations. Studios and audiences often focused on her appearance rather than her acting ability, making it difficult for her to escape the image of Jenny Hanley. Her sudden stardom seemed glamorous from the outside, but Bo had entered it with almost no preparation.