A former TV star, this actress captivated audiences with her role on a hit show for many years. However, after many failed relationships and wanting a change in her life, she left Hollywood to pursue something more fulfilling.
This actress rose to fame in the 1970s and ’80s for her role on the award-winning soap opera “Dallas.” However, after a string of failed relationships, including her first marriage ending in divorce, and years of immense success, she realized she wanted something different.
Trading the spotlight for a quieter life, she now devotes herself to rescuing and caring for animals, a pursuit that fills her with joy every day. Take a look at her journey and how “beautiful” she looks now at 74.
The Rise of the ‘Dallas’ Star
This actress’s journey to fame began in the early 1970s, starting with a role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”alongside the legendary Paul Newman.
However, four years after her debut, the star became so dissatisfied with the trajectory of her career that she stepped away from acting entirely. For the next three years, she shifted her focus and worked as an agent.
By 1978, her passion for law and desire to enter the business side of the entertainment industry led to plans of attending law school and possibly becoming a studio executive.
But fate had a different plan when Aaron Spelling, the famed television producer, offered to cover a year of her law school tuition in exchange for her accepting a role in the pilot of “Fantasy Island”in 1977. She took the opportunity, which led to her landing one of the most significant roles of her career just a year later.
That life-changing role came in the form of Pamela Barnes Ewing on the hit CBS soap opera “Dallas,” which quickly became a fan favorite and one of the longest-running TV shows of its time.
“When I went in for the part on ‘Dallas,’ I had already fallen in love with the show and with the part. So my feeling from the moment I read it was that it was incredibly special, and I really, really wanted to be a part of it. I could not imagine not being Pam,” she shared.
Her portrayal of Pam cemented her as a staple of 1980s television. “The first five years were some of the best television I’ve ever seen,” the actress fondly recalled.
While working on “Dallas,” the star met her first husband, actor Christopher Skinner. The pair found themselves in a whirlwind romance and after just three dates, the couple married in a private Las Vegas ceremony.
However, cracks soon began to show. The actress reflected on their relationship, “After a while, Christopher realized he really did want somebody who was home more, who had more traditional hours. He wanted a more traditional marriage. Now, that wasn’t his fault, and it wasn’t my fault. Needs change.”
She added, “The reason we got divorced was not because we didn’t love each other, but because he couldn’t live within the way I lived, and I couldn’t live the way he wanted. There was no hate involved, just sorrow.”
The breakup with Skinner wasn’t the only romantic disappointment in the actress’s life. She was briefly involved with financier Bernie Cornfeld, a notorious figure of the time. She also dated legendary crooner Frank Sinatra before starting a relationship with pop star Andy Gibb.
Then, after nine years of portraying Pamela Barnes Ewing, the “Dallas” star decided to leave the show. By that time, her dissatisfaction with the series had grown.
“[…] After year seven, there was a definitive decline. At year seven, it was time for me to renegotiate my contract, and I was very candid about my concern and my disappointment,” she explained.
The Hollywood star cited frustrations over the changing quality of the writing and left after her contract negotiations. However, her career didn’t slow down. She launched her own production company and focused on producing and starring in various TV movies.
In 1983, she authored “The Body Principal,” the first of four health and wellness books. Her entrepreneurial spirit reached new heights in 1991 when she founded a successful skincare company she led for nearly 30 years.
Then by the early 2000s, after a string of successful business ventures and TV appearances, including a role on “Titans” from 2000 to 2001, the actress felt a shift in her priorities. “By the time I turned 50, I felt that I wanted to make a change in my life,” she said of her decision to leave Hollywood for good.
From Hollywood Glamour to Ranch Life
This well-known actress is none other than Victoria Principal, who found love once again in the mid-1980s. After her emotional divorce with Gibb, Principal met Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Harry Glassman.
Their relationship blossomed as both were navigating the end of previous marriages. Glassman was in the process of divorcing his first wife, Jane, when he and Principal began dating.
They later married in 1985. However, Glassman once revealed, “One of the things about the relationship with Victoria I’ve grown to resent is the lack of privacy.” The couple eventually parted ways in 2006 after over two decades together.
Over the years, Principal’s dedication to her skincare line Principal Secret remained strong, but her heart was pulling her toward something else. In 2019, she officially stepped down from the business.
“[…] I will be stepping down to devote myself full-time to my philanthropic work through The Victoria Principal Foundation for Thoughtful Existence and my rescue work with animals,” she shared in a statement.
The actress’s animal rescue work took center stage after she moved to a ranch outside of Los Angeles. As of 2012, the former actress lived a quieter life, far removed from the Hollywood scene. On her ranch, she rescues and rehabilitates animals that have been neglected or abused.
“They need medical care, patience, and love to recover physically, emotionally, and in spirit. This is not a charitable organization but rather something I have dreamed of, and they all live out the rest of their lives with me,” she said.
“It’s something that fills me with joy every day,” she added. As for acting, the former Hollywood star admitted, “I have no plans to resume acting, but I learned a long time ago to ‘never say never’ as life has a way of offering us unexpected gifts if we are paying attention.”
Despite moving away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Principal has remained a beloved public figure. In August, the actress took to social media to share a stunning snap of herself embracing her horse, and social media users buzzed over how stunning Principal looked at 74.
“You are so beautiful Victoria,” one person commented. “Such a lovely picture. You are beautiful inside and out,” another person shared. A third typed, “Two beauties. Have a great weekend.”
A fourth social media user added, “So beautiful, dear Victoria. Love is always in my heart. I sure hope to meet you sometime. I love you my friend. Happy Saturday to you and your precious fur family. 🐾☀️🌊💐💛❤️⭐️.”
After leaving the entertainment industry, Victoria Principal found fulfillment in caring for animals and dedicating herself to philanthropy. At 74, she remains a radiant figure, proving that true happiness comes from following one’s passion and living authentically.
