Barbara Bach, the talented actor and model who famously portrayed Bond girl Triple X, didn’t need saving by the suave spy who adored her. No, she was searching for her knight in shining armor – none other than her rocker husband, Sir Richard Starkey, best known as Ringo Starr. This heartwarming love story has captured the hearts of many, even as they enter their golden years.
In 1977, Bach reached the pinnacle of her career with her role in “The Spy Who Loved Me.” She played the captivating love interest and potential adversary to the womanizing agent 007, James Bond, portrayed by Roger Moore. Bach once referred to Bond as “a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets.” Moore, in agreement, confessed in a 1973 interview that both he and Bond were “male chauvinist pigs” and that he had spent his life trying to liberate women from societal constraints.
Before achieving stardom as a Bond girl, Bach had appeared in Italian films, including one where she shared the screen with other Bond girls such as Claudine Auger from “Thunderball” (1965) and Barbara Bouchet from “Casino Royale” (1967) in the 1971 Italian murder-mystery, “Black Belly of the Tarantula.” However, it was her role as Major Anya Amasova, the KGB operative in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” that catapulted her to stardom and solidified her acting career.
Following her iconic Bond girl portrayal, Bach went on to have leading roles in other films. In 1980, she appeared in “Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy,” a film directed by Robert Downey Sr. The following year, she starred alongside Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, and Ringo Starr in the slapstick comedy “Caveman.” In this quirky film, Starr played a Neanderthal who becomes infatuated with Lana, played by Bach. While the movie may have ended with a different romantic outcome for their characters, it was off-screen where their own love story began to unfold.
Contrary to the onscreen plot, Bach and Starr only grew closer during the last week of shooting “Caveman.” They had been friendly colleagues up until that point, with both having their respective partners and friends. But destiny had other plans for them. In her interview with Playboy magazine in 1981, Bach dispelled rumors about their relationship: “A lot of garbage has been written about us, none of it interesting. The truth is, we weren’t together until the very end of Caveman. Working, we got along fine, but we each had other people, our respective friends. Then, all of a sudden, within a week – the last week of shooting – it just happened. We changed from friendly love to being in love.”
Fast forward to 1981, and the beloved couple exchanged vows only months after the tragic killing of John Lennon. Their wedding brought together close friends and former bandmates, including Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Since then, Bach and Starr have been inseparable, overcoming obstacles and embracing life’s precious moments together.
Their love endured even after surviving a near-fatal car crash just before their wedding day. The accident, caused by an abrupt swerve to avoid a truck, resulted in their car rolling over twice. Against all odds, they both emerged unharmed. It was this incident that solidified their decision to never spend time apart. Starr declared, “We decided we wouldn’t spend any time apart. So far, the longest break was five days, and that was too long. I want to live every minute with Barbara.”
Their devotion to each other was further exemplified when they entered rehab together in 1988. Since then, they have remained committed to a life of sobriety.
In 2021, the couple celebrated their 40th anniversary, a remarkable milestone in their enduring love story. Starr took to social media to share a throwback photo from their wedding day, where McCartney and Harrison also made appearances. Starr captioned the photo with heartfelt words: “It was 40 years ago today The love of my life said yes yes yes.”
Their love stretches far beyond their immediate family. Together, Bach and Starr established The Lotus Foundation, a charity that supports various projects related to animal welfare, substance abuse, homelessness, and cancer. Starr, who is also an artist, generously donates all sales proceeds to the organization, demonstrating their shared dedication to making the world a better place.
It is undeniable that the love between Barbara Bach and Ringo Starr is inspiring. Their love story, which began amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, continues to flourish, even after many years. As we eagerly anticipate their future endeavors in charity work and their personal lives, we are reminded that love knows no bounds, and it is a force that truly transcends time.
