Few positions in the glamorous, high-stakes world of 1970s cinema offered greater immediate status and international renown than being a Bond girl. Being the star of the 1977 film classic The Spy Who Loved Me seemed to be the pinnacle of Barbara Bach’s career. Bach played Major Anya Amasova, a cunning and lethal KGB operative known as Triple X, in the film alongside Roger Moore’s sophisticated, international 007. She was a formidable rival and romantic equal to the most well-known spy in the world, not just a damsel in distress in need of rescuing. However, Bach was deeply disillusioned with the very industry that had made her a household figure behind the scenes of this enormous box office hit. Instead of enjoying the glittering spotlight of Hollywood, she was discreetly looking for something much more stable and long-lasting. She had no idea that her real destiny—a captivating rock and roll icon—was waiting for her at an airport terminal.
Bach had established a solid career in the European cinema industry before she ever appeared on screen with Roger Moore. The beautiful, brown-haired beauty appeared in cult favorites like the 1971 murder-mystery Black Belly of the Tarantula as she navigated the intense world of Italian cinema for years. This specific production, which starred Barbara Bouchet from the 1967 parody Casino Royale and Claudine Auger of Thunderball fame, was noteworthy for bringing together three different generations of Bond alumni. Even while these foreign films were successful, her high-profile role as Major Amasova was what really made her Hollywood career shine. Bach was at the height of her economic popularity all of a sudden, yet she was refreshingly open about the limitations of her characters. She publicly criticized the classic James Bond persona in a number of media appearances, accusing him of being a chauvinist who used women as human shields. Surprisingly, Roger Moore, her co-star, concurred with her judgment, jokingly acknowledging that the character was, in fact, an antiquated chauvinist.
Bach was inundated with promising offers after her phenomenal success in the spy franchise. She also landed leading parts in well-known films, such as the 1980 satire Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy, which was helmed by the renowned Robert Downey Sr. Her role in the 1981 slapstick comedy Caveman, however, would fundamentally change the course of both her personal and professional lives. The iconic drummer of the most influential rock band in history, Ringo Starr, co-starred in the prehistoric comedy with up-and-coming talents Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long. The script planned for Starr’s caveman character to lust after Bach’s attractive character in a hilarious twist of cinematic irony, only to reject her in favor of another partner.
The off-screen relationship actually had a far different, far more enchanted plot. Before the cameras ever started rolling, the spark had kindled. The two celebrities met while traveling through the busy Los Angeles International Airport terminals on their route to the Mexican filming location. The actress immediately charmed Starr, who had dominated the music industry as the adored, dependable heartbeat of The Beatles. Even though Bach had a friend at the time, they happened to be on the same airplane to the Mexican set. Although their relationship remained cordial and professional for most of the production, there was an abrupt and noticeable change during the last week of filming. Their informal friendship quickly developed into a profound, passionate, and all-consuming romantic love.
It’s interesting to note that their paths had previously met in a crowd. A teenage Barbara Bach had witnessed the Fab Four’s record-breaking concert in 1965 at New York’s storied Shea Stadium while sitting amid the boisterous, disorderly crowd. Bach was not swept up in the overwhelming Beatlemania wave, even though he was present for one of the most famous moments in music history. She had only gone to the performance with her sister Marjorie, who was so devoted to the band that she went to the stadium wearing a Beatles wig. Bach preferred the gritty, soulful sounds of Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and the Rolling Stones, while her sister shrieked over the British imports. In a stunning turn of events, Marjorie would eventually wed renowned Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who would go on to play with his future brother-in-law in the renowned Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band.
Bach and Starr made the decision to further their relationship just months after John Lennon’s untimely death, and they planned a stunning wedding for April 27, 1981. But only a few days before their wedding, the couple was involved in a horrifying, almost fatal car accident. Their car rolled over twice before stopping as a smashed pile of metal after they swerved violently to avoid an approaching truck while they were traveling together. Both somehow managed to escape the wreckage with very minor wounds. The couple’s emotional wake-up call from the terrifying experience solidified their resolve to never spend a large amount of time apart. After this traumatic near-death experience, they made an unbreakable commitment to live a life that was solely focused on friendship and care for one another.
When the couple bravely decided to attend a rehabilitation clinic in 1988 to fight substance misuse, their union’s strength was once again put to the test. They successfully completed the program and have been sober together for almost forty years. Starr posted a heartwarming old photo from their wedding day, which showed surviving comrades Paul McCartney and George Harrison grinning with the newlyweds, when the couple celebrated their historic 40th wedding anniversary in 2021. Three children from Starr’s first marriage to Maureen Cox and two from Bach’s first marriage to Augusto Gregorini make up their blended family today.
Beyond their happiness at home, the pair has used their enormous platform to promote worldwide generosity by founding The Lotus Foundation. This philanthropic effort provides funding for important initiatives that promote homelessness, drug rehab, animal welfare, and cancer research. To ensure that the foundation’s legacy is characterized by charity, Starr regularly donates all of the revenues from his personal painting sales directly to the organization. Barbara Bach’s decision to reject the glittering promises of Hollywood is nonetheless a potent example of the transformational power of genuine love, demonstrating that some stars are meant to shine brightest when they shine together.