Bo Derek’s lifetime of guilt after ending Linda Evans and John Derek’s marriage
To a starstruck American teenager making her first movie in the idyllic Greek islands, falling for her handsome director seemed like the perfect love story.
But while the romance that turned her life on its head still holds a wealth of happy memories, movie legend Bo Derek looks back with regret on how ready she was to steal another woman’s husband.
“That still breaks my heart,” admits the 63-year-old. “Being part of breaking up a marriage is a horrible thing and I still can’t believe I was a part of it.”
At the time, director John Derek was married to actress Linda Evans – who went on to star in hit soap Dynasty.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article22630387.ece/ALTERNATES/n310p/0_FILM-10.jpg)
Bo Derek looks back with regret on how ready she was to steal another woman’s husband when she was 17 (
Warner Bros./Getty Images)
But what made the scandal worthy of a soap opera itself was that, at 46, three-times wed John was three decades older.
Once filming was complete on the aptly named movie, Fantasies, the besotted pair set up a new life in Europe.
Because Bo was under 18 – the age of consent in her home state of California – there were fears Derek could face legal action in the US over the relationship.
She fell in love with director John Derek – who was married to actress Linda Evans at the time (
Getty Images)Five years later, in 1976, she became his wife No4. They stayed together until John’s death in 1998, aged 71.