One of the most stunning stars of the ’80s, known for a wild range of roles, stepped out for a rare appearance on Wednesday — much to the delight of fans.
The actress, ageless at 79 and who first shot to fame as Bond girl Fatima Blush opposite Sean Connery in 1983’s Never Say Never Again, was spotted in a chic ensemble in Beverly Hills.
Dressed in a red sweater, black jacket, and long skirt, the Nicaraguan-born American actress and model looked worlds away from the skimpy outfits she wore as the scheming Angelica Nero on the iconic soap Dallas.
A seasoned performer, she had already shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights, including Rock Hudson in Embryo, Paul Newman in When Time Ran Out, Burt Lancaster in 1977’s The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Oliver Reed in Condorman.
Longtime fans will also remember the beauty who once stole Queen Elizabeth’s godson’s heart, romancing Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland, after her third marriage.
Can you guess the star?
One of the most stunning stars of the ’80s, known for a wild range of roles, stepped out for a rare appearance on Wednesday — much to the delight of fans
The actress, ageless at 79 and who first shot to fame as Bond girl Fatima Blush opposite Sean Connery in 1983’s Never Say Never Again, was spotted in a chic ensemble in Beverly Hills
Dressed in a red sweater, black jacket, and long skirt, the Nicaraguan-born American actress and model looked worlds away from the skimpy outfits she wore as the scheming Angelica Nero on the iconic soap Dallas
If you said Barbara Carrera, you’re right!
Carrera’s career proved she was far more than a Bond girl.
After Never Say Never Again, she refused to be typecast as the stereotypical femme fatale.
‘They did try,’ she told The New York Times. ‘Every role I got offered was bad-woman roles, bad women, bad women.
‘And I just kept turning them down. Sometimes to my detriment, because some of them were really great.’
Instead, she carved out a diverse body of work, including a memorable 25-episode run on Dallas at the height of its popularity.
Born in Nicaragua, she began modeling at just 17 for the famed Eileen Ford agency, adopting her mother’s maiden name, Carrera, as her professional moniker.
Early screen appearances included a cameo as herself in Jerry Schatzberg’s Puzzle of a Downfall Child (1970) and a publicity role for Chiquita Bananas in 1972.
If you said Barbara Carrera, you’re right! (pictured 1983)
Her first Golden Globe nomination came in 1976 for The Master Gunfighter (New Star of the Year – Actress), and she would go on to earn another for her unforgettable turn as the villainous Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again (1983), opposite Connery
Born in Nicaragua, she began modeling at just 17 for the famed Eileen Ford agency, adopting her mother’s maiden name, Carrera, as her professional moniker; (with Pamela Salem and Connery in 1983)
Her striking looks quickly made her a fixture in the pages of Vogue, Paris Match, Harper’s Bazaar, and twice on the cover of Playboy (July 1977 and March 1982).
Her first Golden Globe nomination came in 1976 for The Master Gunfighter (New Star of the Year – Actress), and she would go on to earn another for her unforgettable turn as the villainous Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again (1983), opposite Connery.
On television, Carrera proved just as formidable.
She appeared in epic miniseries such as Centennial (1978) and Masada (1981) opposite Peter O’Toole, and starred as Emma Eliza Cole in Emma: Queen of the South Seas (1988).
In 1989, she shared the screen with Bette Davis in Wicked Stepmother, the legend’s final film role, portraying mother and daughter witches in a story where Davis even inhabited Carrera’s body to appear younger.
She later appeared in a playful nod to her Bond Girl legacy on That ’70s Show in 2000.
Beyond acting, Carrera is an accomplished painter whose works have been displayed at Makk Galleries in Beverly Hills, the Roy Miles Gallery in London, and the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, with pieces selling for up to $12,000.
She also served as Nicaragua’s Ambassador-at-Large in 1997, receiving a diplomatic passport from President Arnoldo Alemán.
Barbara played Angelica Nero on Dallas
Barbara later captured the heart of Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland (pictured), Queen Elizabeth II’s godson
Her personal life has been equally headline-grabbing.
Carrera has been married three times — to Kurt von Hoffman, German model and actor Uwe Harden, and Greek shipping magnate Nicholas Mark Mavroleon — and dated an array of high-profile men, including Robert Evans, Richard Gere, Timothy Dalton, and Ryan O’Neal.
Her longest romance was with journalist Cameron Docherty, and she later captured the heart of Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland, Queen Elizabeth II’s godson.
Even at 79, Carrera still turns heads, a true 80s screen siren who has built a career on her own terms — from Bond girl to TV villain, painter, and diplomat — all while avoiding the usual pitfalls of Hollywood fame.
