Barbara Bach became immortal as the unforgettable KGB agent Anya Amasova, codenamed Triple X, in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. She played a Bond girl who was sharp, capable, and clearly didn’t need saving. Yet in her real life, Bach was searching for something deeper than fame or cinematic glamour: a genuine partner who could see past her public persona. She eventually found that connection with Sir Richard Starkey, better known worldwide as Ringo Starr.
At 78, Bach remains an enduring icon of 1970s elegance. Her performance alongside Roger Moore propelled her into international stardom, making her one of the rare Bond women able to match 007 in skill and intelligence. Despite the fame it brought, she has never shied away from critiquing the character. In a 1983 People magazine interview, she famously dismissed James Bond as “a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets.” Even Moore once described Bond similarly—as a “male chauvinist pig.”
Before her breakout Bond role, Bach had already built a strong career in European cinema, especially Italian films. She starred in movies such as Black Belly of the Tarantula, alongside former Bond actresses Claudine Auger and Barbara Bouchet. The success of The Spy Who Loved Me further elevated her career, leading to roles in Up the Academy and the 1981 prehistoric comedy Caveman—the very project that would change her life forever.
During preparations for Caveman, Bach and Ringo Starr crossed paths by chance at LAX. Both were traveling to Mexico for filming, living separate lives with separate romantic partners, unaware that their worlds were about to shift. In a later Playboy interview, Bach recalled, “Within a week—the last week of shooting—we went from friendly love to being in love.”
Starr remembers the moment vividly as well. In a 2021 interview, he said, “I loved her from when I first saw her at LAX in 1980… I’m blessed she’s in my life, that’s all I can ever say.”
In a twist of fate, Bach had attended a Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in 1965—but not for the band itself. She later joked that her sister Marjorie, a true fan, wore a Beatles wig, while Bach preferred Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and The Rolling Stones. Life has its coincidences: Marjorie later married Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who became a longtime member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band.
Just months after John Lennon’s death, Bach and Starr married on April 27, 1981, with Paul McCartney and George Harrison attending. Before the wedding, they survived a near-fatal car accident, and Starr later said it cemented their resolve: “We decided we wouldn’t spend any time apart.” That commitment has endured for over 40 years, with their longest separation being just five days.
Their bond deepened through shared struggles. In 1988, they entered rehabilitation together and have maintained sobriety ever since. For their 40th wedding anniversary in 2021, Starr shared a wedding photo online, captioning it simply: “It was 40 years ago today the love of my life said yes yes yes.”
Together, they blended a family of five children—Starr’s three from his first marriage and Bach’s two from her previous marriage. They also co-founded The Lotus Foundation, supporting causes from homelessness and addiction recovery to animal welfare and cancer research. Starr donates all proceeds from his artwork to the foundation, highlighting their shared commitment to philanthropy.
After four decades, their love remains defined by devotion rather than spectacle. Bach said simply, “I love the man, and that’s it.” Starr echoes the sentiment: “I think I love Barbara as much today as I did when we met—and I’m beyond blessed that she loves me and we’re still together.”
Their story is a testament that profound, lasting love often emerges not from Hollywood glamour or rock-and-roll fame, but from a quiet, deliberate commitment to each other, day after day, year after year.