How This ’70s Beauty Icon Found a New Purpose After Fame Almost Ruined Her Life

This 1970s actress captivated millions as a TV star but faced immense personal and professional struggles — from burnouts to health issues and failed relationships. Decades later, she found peace, purpose, and a new calling. Here’s her incredible journey.

The allure of Hollywood in the 1970s created stars who seemed to have it all — beauty, talent, and the adoration of millions. One such star captured hearts with her elegance and charm, becoming an icon of her era.

The beauty icon circa 1975. | Source: Getty Images

The beauty icon circa 1975. | Source: Getty Images

Her journey to stardom began modestly, fueled by ambition and undeniable talent. A breakthrough moment came when she landed a role in “The Bionic Woman,” playing Jaime Sommers, a tennis pro who becomes a crime-fighting hero after receiving bionic implants.

The Hollywood star on the set of "The Bionic Woman" in 1975. | Source: Getty Images

The Hollywood star on the set of “The Bionic Woman” in 1975. | Source: Getty Images

The series became a cultural phenomenon, making her a household name and a symbol of strength and grace. “It was the beginning of changing the image of women in the media, the actress revealed in 2018. “Anybody over the age of 34 still tells me how I was such a big part of their childhood.”

“Wow! My childhood hero!!” one person commented on a throwback post the actress shared of herself on Instagram. Another typed“Absolutely Beautiful!!😍😍😍.”

Despite the show’s success, her life behind the scenes was far from glamorous. By the time “The Bionic Woman” concluded in 1978, she was completely burnt out. Reflecting on her experience, she admitted that her character’s emotional disconnect mirrored her own struggles.

She even wrote the show’s final episode, saying, “How Jaime Sommers was feeling — not like a woman but like a kind of robot — was the way I was feeling about the series.”

The famous actress filming "The Bionic Woman" circa 1976 | Source: Getty Images

The famous actress filming “The Bionic Woman” circa 1976 | Source: Getty Images

The demands of fame took a heavy toll. Working 16-hour days left her physically and emotionally drained, and inter-studio battles added to her stress. The actress confessed to turning to alcohol and d.r.u.g.s to cope, adding, “I felt betrayed, friendless. […] I knew I had to make some changes; I had to become more relaxed about people and within myself.” [... Continue ]

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