Episode summary
Bill Maher sits down with actress Bo Derek for a wide-ranging conversation covering Hollywood history, personal choices, and controversial political topics. Derek, who became a global sex symbol after starring in the 1979 film 10, reveals she has largely avoided public appearances and hasn't made a major motion picture in years, making this rare interview particularly notable. The conversation opens with Derek sharing insider Hollywood stories, including Marlon Brando's inability to remember whether he slept with actress Ursula Andress when writing his autobiography, and her own decision at 17 to marry director John Derek, who was 46 at the time. Derek candidly discusses her choice not to have children, explaining she realized in her 30s that neither she nor her husband were parent material. Maher shares his parallel experience remaining unmarried and childless at 70, with both reflecting on aging, mortality, and the pressures of Hollywood expectations. The discussion shifts to contentious political territory as Maher criticizes the Barbie movie for falsely depicting an all-male Mattel boardroom when the real company has equal gender representation, arguing it perpetuates a false patriarchy narrative. He also challenges COVID vaccine mandates for people with natural immunity, claiming pharmaceutical interests overrode established science. Derek discusses her animal rights activism, including work as a PETA board member and her efforts on horse welfare issues, revealing she served as a California racing commissioner for seven years under Arnold Schwarzenegger. The conversation touches on the drug war, with both advocating for decriminalization, and concludes with reflections on retirement, happiness, and living in California despite its political challenges.
