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Bo Derek, the renowned US actress, model and film producer, has chosen Doha to celebrate her birthday, on Thursday, November 21.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, she said, “I love travelling and I had been planning to visit my friend, Ambassador Ivvone A. Baki, [HE the Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar]. Then we decided it was better to celebrate my birthday in Qatar.”
This is Bo Derek’s second visit to Doha. She still cherishes her last visit to Doha in 1998 when she attended a 25-mile (40 kilometre) Marathon Horse Race in the desert.
Bo, who is known for her passion for horses, has served as Commissioner of California Horse Racing Board between 2008 and 2015. Looking at her deep interest and passion for horses, the then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as Commissioner of California Horse Racing Board.
“My love for horses makes the world more interesting. And Qatar has fantastic horse races,” she said.
Comparing the current visit to her last one in 1998, she said Qatar has undergone “spectacular and amazing development”.
“Although it looks a very long time from 1998, I have never seen a place changed so much in terms of growth. It’s tremendous,” she averred. Refreshing her memories of the last visit, she remembers Hotel Sheraton as the only tall building back then.
Having arrived in Doha a few days ago, she has visited a number of places including the National Museum of Qatar and Qatar National Library. She described the National Museum of Qatar and Qatar National Library as “magnificent and best architecture in the world”.
She was also fascinated while visiting Pearl Exhibition as she loves natural pearls. In fact, during this interview, she was wearing a pearl necklace. “I have never seen such an incredible collection of natural pearls at one place. This reflects on Qatar’s heritage and early times trade.”
Bo, who married renowned film director John Derek, was born as Mary Collins and was brought up in Southern California. She rose to global fame overnight after the release of the film ‘10’, directed by John Derek, in early 1980’s.
When asked how she landed in the film industry, she said her mother, Ann Margret, was a fantastic artist. “One night my mother was doing her show in Los Vegas and I was on the back stage when an agent came to me and asked if I would like to work in movies. I was barely 10 then. I agreed. No schooling, no training, no education. Actually, the industry has been very kind to me,” she narrated.
Some of her blockbuster movies include ‘10’ (1979), Tarzan, The Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), Woman of Desire (1994), Tommy Boy (1995), etc.
She said she considers herself very lucky that things just came her way without any struggle. “However, I tried to do my best in my roles -- both in terms of focus and hard work. It’s [films] a very unusual business. Like any art, one may be best-trained and skilled but there’s an indescribable attraction that you cannot be trained for, which is unfair. However, I tried to enjoy and work as hard as I could,” she said, explaining her mantra of superstardom.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, she said, “I love travelling and I had been planning to visit my friend, Ambassador Ivvone A. Baki, [HE the Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar]. Then we decided it was better to celebrate my birthday in Qatar.”
This is Bo Derek’s second visit to Doha. She still cherishes her last visit to Doha in 1998 when she attended a 25-mile (40 kilometre) Marathon Horse Race in the desert.
Bo, who is known for her passion for horses, has served as Commissioner of California Horse Racing Board between 2008 and 2015. Looking at her deep interest and passion for horses, the then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as Commissioner of California Horse Racing Board.
“My love for horses makes the world more interesting. And Qatar has fantastic horse races,” she said.
Comparing the current visit to her last one in 1998, she said Qatar has undergone “spectacular and amazing development”.
“Although it looks a very long time from 1998, I have never seen a place changed so much in terms of growth. It’s tremendous,” she averred. Refreshing her memories of the last visit, she remembers Hotel Sheraton as the only tall building back then.
Having arrived in Doha a few days ago, she has visited a number of places including the National Museum of Qatar and Qatar National Library. She described the National Museum of Qatar and Qatar National Library as “magnificent and best architecture in the world”.
She was also fascinated while visiting Pearl Exhibition as she loves natural pearls. In fact, during this interview, she was wearing a pearl necklace. “I have never seen such an incredible collection of natural pearls at one place. This reflects on Qatar’s heritage and early times trade.”
Bo, who married renowned film director John Derek, was born as Mary Collins and was brought up in Southern California. She rose to global fame overnight after the release of the film ‘10’, directed by John Derek, in early 1980’s.
When asked how she landed in the film industry, she said her mother, Ann Margret, was a fantastic artist. “One night my mother was doing her show in Los Vegas and I was on the back stage when an agent came to me and asked if I would like to work in movies. I was barely 10 then. I agreed. No schooling, no training, no education. Actually, the industry has been very kind to me,” she narrated.
Some of her blockbuster movies include ‘10’ (1979), Tarzan, The Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), Woman of Desire (1994), Tommy Boy (1995), etc.
She said she considers herself very lucky that things just came her way without any struggle. “However, I tried to do my best in my roles -- both in terms of focus and hard work. It’s [films] a very unusual business. Like any art, one may be best-trained and skilled but there’s an indescribable attraction that you cannot be trained for, which is unfair. However, I tried to enjoy and work as hard as I could,” she said, explaining her mantra of superstardom.
