Barbara Bach

Barbara Bach is an American model and actress who became one of the most recognized faces of international fashion and cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. Beginning her career as a high-fashion model with the Eileen Ford Agency, she appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines around the world. She later gained global fame as an actress, playing the iconic Bond girl Anya Amasova, also known as Agent XXX, in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. She is also widely celebrated for her decades-long marriage to former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Born in Queens, New York, Bach attended Dominican Commercial High School in Jamaica, Queens. After graduating, she shortened her surname from Goldbach to Bach and pursued professional modeling full-time. She was promptly signed by the prestigious Eileen Ford Agency in New York City, quickly establishing herself as a sought-after cover girl. Throughout the mid-to-late 1960s, Bach appeared on the covers of leading international fashion publications, including a July 1966 cover for Vogue photographed by Richard Avedon, as well as prominent features in Elle and Seventeen magazines.

Acting Career and Breakthrough

In the late 1960s, Bach moved to Italy, where she transitioned into acting. She made her screen debut in the 1968 television adaptation L'Odissea, portraying the character Nausicaa. She subsequently built a prominent filmography in Italian cinema, appearing in several thrillers and dramas. Her definitive breakthrough arrived in 1977 when she landed the role of KGB agent Major Anya Amasova in the James Bond feature The Spy Who Loved Me opposite Roger Moore. Following her success as a Bond girl, she starred in action and comedy films such as Force 10 from Navarone (1978), The Humanoid (1979), and Caveman (1981).

Personal Life and Later Endeavors

While working on the set of Caveman in 1980, Bach met Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. The couple married in London on April 27, 1981. She was previously married to Italian businessman Augusto Gregorini, with whom she has two children, including director Francesca Gregorini. After stepping away from acting in the mid-1980s, Bach dedicated much of her time to philanthropy. In 1991, she co-founded the Self Help Addiction Recovery Program with Olivia Harrison. She remains active in charitable work and continues to make public appearances supporting humanitarian causes alongside her husband.