Even decades after first captivating audiences on the big screen, Barbara Carrera remains a magnetic presence.
The Nicaraguan-born actress, 79, turned heads on Wednesday during a rare outing in Beverly Hills, proving that age has done nothing to diminish her iconic allure.
From Bond Girl to TV Villain: Carrera’s Hollywood Journey
Carrera first shot to fame as the unforgettable Bond girl Fatima Blush opposite Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again (1983).
But she quickly showed she was far more than a typical femme fatale. Determined to avoid typecasting, Carrera turned down numerous “bad woman” roles, carving out a diverse career across film and television.
Her early screen credits include working alongside Hollywood legends such as Rock Hudson in Embryo, Paul Newman in When Time Ran Out, Burt Lancaster in The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Oliver Reed in Condorman.
Fans also remember her memorable 25-episode run on Dallas, where she played the scheming Angelica Nero, cementing her place in television history.
Modeling and Magazine Fame
Carrera began modeling at 17 with the prestigious Eileen Ford agency, adopting her mother’s maiden name professionally.
Her striking looks quickly made her a fixture in top publications, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Paris Match, and she graced the cover of Playboy twice (July 1977 and March 1982).
Award-Winning Roles and Television Triumphs
Her talent earned her early recognition with a Golden Globe nomination in 1976 for The Master Gunfighter as New Star of the Year.
She later garnered another nomination for her villainous turn as Fatima Blush in the Bond film.
On television, she starred in epic miniseries like Centennial (1978) and Masada (1981) alongside Peter O’Toole, and took the lead role in Emma: Queen of the South Seas (1988).
Carrera also shared the screen with Bette Davis in Wicked Stepmother (1989), portraying mother and daughter witches in Davis’ final film role, and later embraced her Bond legacy with a playful appearance on That ’70s Show in 2000.
Life Beyond the Screen: Art, Diplomacy, and High-Profile Romances
Outside acting, Carrera is a respected painter, with works displayed at Makk Galleries in Beverly Hills, the Roy Miles Gallery in London, and the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, fetching up to $12,000.
She also served as Nicaragua’s Ambassador-at-Large in 1997, receiving a diplomatic passport from President Arnoldo Alemán.
Her personal life has been equally fascinating. Married three times—to Kurt von Hoffman, Uwe Harden, and Greek shipping magnate Nicholas Mark Mavroleon—she also dated high-profile men including Robert Evans, Richard Gere, Timothy Dalton, and Ryan O’Neal.
Carrera’s longest romance was with journalist Cameron Docherty, and she later charmed Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland and Queen Elizabeth II’s godson.
Ageless Glamour and Lasting Legacy
Even at 79, Barbara Carrera remains a true screen siren.
From Bond girl to TV villain, painter, and diplomat, she has built a remarkable career on her own terms, avoiding the usual pitfalls of Hollywood fame and continuing to captivate fans wherever she goes.