Barbara Bouchet (born Bärbel Gutscher; 15 August 1943)[2][3] is a German-born actress, dancer, and model, active in the United States and Italy. She is regarded as a sex symbol in genre films of the 1960's and '70s.[4]

Barbara Bouchet
Bouchet in 2006
Born
Bärbel Gutscher

(1943-08-15) 15 August 1943 (age 81)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
Years active1959–present
Spouse
Luigi Borghese
(m. 1974; sep 2006)
Children2, including Alessandro Borghese

Born in German-occupied Czechosovakia, Bouchet's family emigrated to the United States after the Second World War. She began her acting career in the in the '60s, appearing in small roles in films such as In Harm's Way and guest parts on television series such as Star Trek and The Virginian. She had more prominent film roles in Casino Royale (1967), in which she played Miss Moneypenny,[1] and Sweet Charity (1969).

Bouchet moved to Italy in the 1970's, becoming an Italian citizen and starring in a large number of genre films, including thrillers (gialli), crime films (poliziotteschi), and sex comedies (commedia sexy all'italiana).[1] Her best known appearances in Italian cinema include the films Don't Torture a Duckling (1972), The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (1972) and Caliber 9 (1972).

Bouchet effectively retired from acting in the early 1980s, transitioning to a career producing fitness videos and books and opening a gym in Rome. She has since made some further appearances acting in film and television, including a small role in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York (2002).

Early life

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Sybil Danning, Pia Giancaro, and Bouchet in The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, 1972

Bärbel Gutscher was born in Reichenberg, Sudetenland, in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia (today Liberec in the Czech Republic). She had four siblings.[5] Her father, Fritz, was a photographer, and her mother, Ingrid, was an actress.[1]

After World War II, her family was placed in a resettlement camp in the American occupation zone in Germany. They were granted permission to emigrate to the United States under the humanitarian provisions of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948.[6]

After arriving in the United States, the family lived in Five Points, California on the west side of the Central Valley and eventually settled in San Francisco, where Gutscher was raised. During the early 1960s San Francisco Bay Area television station KPIX-TV ran a show named The KPIX Dance Party and offered Gutscher the opportunity to become a member of the show's dance group.[7]

Career

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Bouchet in The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
 
Bouchet in Amuck! 1972
 
Bouchet Rome 1970s

Bouchet began her career modelling for magazine covers and appearing in television commercials, before eventually becoming an actress. Her first acting role was a minor part in What a Way to Go! (1964), which led to a series of other roles in the 1960s. She appeared in the films John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1964), In Harm's Way (1964), and Agent for H.A.R.M. (1966).

She appeared, semi-nude, in two editions of Playboy magazine: May 1965 (stills from In Harm's Way) and February 1967 ("The Girls of Casino Royale").[8]

In Casino Royale (1967), Bouchet played the role of Miss Moneypenny. She guest-starred in the Star Trek episode "By Any Other Name" (1968) as Kelinda, and appeared in the musical film Sweet Charity (1969) playing Ursula.

Bouchet began acting in Italian films, such as Black Belly of the Tarantula, Amuck!, The Man with Icy Eyes, The French Sex Murders, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, Don't Torture a Duckling and Sex with a Smile.

She starred with Gregory Peck in The Scarlet and The Black (1983). In 1985, she established a production company and started to produce a series of fitness books and videos. In addition, Bouchet opened a fitness studio in Rome. In 2002, Bouchet appeared in Gangs of New York, playing Mrs. Schermerhorn.

Personal life

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In 1974, Bouchet married Luigi Borghese, a producer, with whom she has two sons: Alessandro, a TV chef, and Massimiliano, a bartender. Her husband subsequently produced some of her later films. They separated in 2006, citing different aspirations.[9]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 A Global Affair Woman Cameo appearance
What a Way to Go! Girl on plane Cameo appearance
Bedtime Story German girl Cameo appearance
Good Neighbor Sam Receptionist
Sex and the Single Girl Photographer Cameo appearance
1965 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! Astrid Porche
In Harm's Way Liz Eddington
1966 Agent for H.A.R.M. Ava Vestok
1967 Casino Royale Moneypenny
Danger Route Mari
1969 Sweet Charity Ursula
1970 The Syndicate: A Death in the Family Monica Brown
Il debito coniugale Candida
L'asino d'oro Pudentilla
The Swinging Confessors Mrs. Marchio
1971 Nights and Loves of Don Juan Esmeralda Vargas
The Man with Icy Eyes Ann Saxe
Black Belly of the Tarantula Maria Zani
Non commettere atti impuri Nadine
Amuck! Greta Franklin
1972 Winged Devils Karin
Una cavalla tutta nuda Gemmata
Caliber 9 Nelly Bordon
Valerie Inside Outside Valeria Rocchi
Casa d'appuntamento Francine Boulert
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times Ketty Wildenbrück
Master of Love Lucrezia
Don't Torture a Duckling Patrizia
Finalmente… le mille e una notte Mariam
La calandria Lucrezia
1973 Ancora una volta prima di lasciarci Luisa
My Pleasure Is Your Pleasure Prostitute Cameo appearance
Ricco the Mean Machine Scilla
Cry of a Prostitute Margie
1974 La badessa di Castro Elena
La svergognata Silvia Lorenzi
1975 L'amica di mia madre Barbara
Down the Ancient Staircase Carla
Amor vuol dir gelosia Corinna Borotto
Duck in Orange Sauce Patty
The Hook Laura Maras
1976 Sex with a Smile Barbara Segment: "I soldi in bocca"
Tutti possono arricchire tranne i poveri Countess Federici
Death Rage Annie
Sex with a Smile II Violante Segment: "L'armadio di Troia"
1977 L'appuntamento Ingrid
1978 Blood and Diamonds Lisa
How to Lose a Wife and Find a Lover Eleonora Rubens
Travolto dagli affetti familiari Barbara
1979 Liquirizia Miss Raffaella
Saturday, Sunday and Friday Enza Paternò Segment: "Sunday"
1980 I'm Photogenic Herself Cameo appearance
La moglie in vacanza... l'amante in città Valeria
1981 Spaghetti a mezzanotte Celestre Lagrasta
Per favore, occupati di Amelia Amelia
Crema, cioccolata e… paprika Eleonora Bonifazi
Perchè non facciamo l'amore? Manuela Robelli
1984 Diamond Connection Dr. Karen
2001 Our Tropical Island Woman on TV show Cameo appearance
2002 Gangs of New York Mrs. Schermeron
2005 Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula Caesonia Short film
2008 Bastardi Carmen Iuvara
2009 Butterfly zone - Il senso della farfalla Woman with moustache
La vita dispari Ludovica Levi
2011 Finalmente la felicità Herself Cameo appearance
2015 Darkside Witches Sibilia
Madame & Monsieur Madame Short film
2017 Easy - Un viaggio facile facile Delia
In Search of Fellini Hostess Cameo appearance
2018 Put Grandma in the Freezer Grandma Birgit
2020 Calibro 9 Nelly
Tolo Tolo Mrs. Inge
2021 Una famiglia mostruosa Crisilide
2023 Diabolik: Who Are You? Countess Wiendemar

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Rogues Elsa Idonescu Episode: "Plavonia, Hail and Farewell"
1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Tippy Penfield Episode: "The Left-Handed Man"
1966 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Narcissus Darling Episode: "The Project Deephole Affair"
1967 The Virginian Marianne Episode: "The Fortress"
1968 Tarzan Angela Fraser Episode: "Jungle Ransom"
Star Trek Kelinda Episode: "By Any Other Name"
1972 Cool Million Carla Miles Episode: "Mask of Marcella"
1983 The Scarlet and the Black Minna Kappler Television film
1983–1984 Beauty Center Show Herself Variety show
1993 Quelli della speciale Adrienne Beauvrais Recurring role; 3 episodes
1996 Un posto al sole Delia De La Roche Series regular
2003 Incantesimo Jane Guest role; 2 episodes
2004 Diritto di difesa Gilardi's mother Recurring role; 4 episodes
2006 La provinciale Elvira Coceanu Television film
2008 Amiche mie Mariella Episode: "Giù la maschera"
2008–2010 Ho sposato uno sbirro Clarissa Morini Main role; 34 episodes
2010 Capri Beatrice Maggioni Episode: "Seconda puntata"
Crimini Loredana Presutti Episode: "Little Dream"
2014 Il tredicesimo apostolo Mrs. Castro Episode: "Il pianto del demonio"
2019 Un amore da copertina Betty Richichi Television film
2020 Ballando con le Stelle Herself Contestant (season 15)
2021 Alessandro Borghese: Celebrity Chef Herself Contestant (episode 22)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d di Gagliardi, Giovanni (15 August 2023). "Barbara Bouchet, gli 80 anni di una attrice dalle tante vite". La Repubblica.
  2. ^ "Barbara Bouchet" Archived 2018-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com; retrieved 12 December 2014.
  3. ^ Cremonini, Maria. "Le Favolose Attrici Anni Settanta". Self-Publish – via Google Books.
  4. ^ redazione (2019-01-23). "Barbara Bouchet, sex symbol del cinema italiano degli anni '70 sarà l'ospite d'onore della 14ma edizione di Cortinametraggio dal 18 al 24 marzo" (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  5. ^ Lisanti, Tom; Paul, Louis (April 10, 2002). Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973. McFarland. ISBN 9780786411948 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ De Zayas, Alfred Maurice. A Terrible Revenge, Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition (2006); ISBN 1-4039-7308-3.
  7. ^ Interiano, Manny. "KPIX Dance Party". Archived from the original on 5 June 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Playboy Magazine February 1967 vol.14, no.2". Vintage Playboy Mags; retrieved 12 December 2014.
  9. ^ Boccalini, Siria. "Intervista a Barbara Bouchet" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
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