Barbara Bouchet (born Bärbel Gutscher; 15 August 1943) is a German-Italian actress who lives and works in Italy. Bouchet began her acting career in the United States in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films such as In Harm's Way and one-off appearances in television series such as Star Trek and The Virginian. She had more prominent film roles in Sweet Charity (1969) and Casino Royale (1967), in which she played Miss Moneypenny. She switched to performing in Italian productions in 1970, and went on to star in a large number of genre films, including thrillers (gialli), crime films (poliziotteschi), and sex comedies (commedia sexy all'italiana). 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

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

Career

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"). 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

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.

Filmography

Films

Television