Victoria Principal

Biography

Victoria Principal is an American actress and producer best known for playing Pamela Barnes Ewing on the primetime soap opera Dallas. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, she spent part of her childhood in England, where she studied at the Royal Ballet School. She began acting in television commercials at age five and later landed her first film role in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), earning a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. She followed that with Earthquake (1974), I Will, I Will...For Now (1976), and Vigilante Force (1976). After playing Pamela Ewing for nine years and receiving a second Golden Globe nomination for Dallas, she left the series in 1987. Principal then started her own production company, Victoria Principal Productions, and starred in television films including Naked Lie (1989) and Blind Witness (1989). She also became a best-selling author and created a skincare line, Principal Secret.

76years old

Turns 77 on January 3in 54 days

Born January 3, 1950Fukuoka
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Vicki Ree Principal

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 19 years1972 to 1991

Every film, newest first

1991Don't Touch My DaughterIMDb rating 5.6
1976I Will, I Will...For NowIMDb rating 4.7
1976Vigilante ForceIMDb rating 5.3
1974EarthquakeIMDb rating 6.0
1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanIMDb rating 6.8

Genres

Did you know?!

First role
Principal's first film role came in John Huston's The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), playing Marie Elena, a Mexican mistress. The part earned her a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising Newcomer.
Getting ready for a role
For the supporting role of Rosa Amici in Earthquake, Principal beat out Susan Sarandon and Kay Lenz, and before her third callback she cut her waist-length hair into an Afro, which stunned director Mark Robson.
A role that slipped away
Principal believed Dallas would be a hit as soon as she read it, so she declined a major role that would have clashed with the show, expecting to be offered the part of Pam. That is what happened.
Big break
Principal sent herself in for the Dallas audition, calling the casting person and saying she was sending someone, then showing up as herself.
Getting ready for a role
Principal looked for other ways to improve her character, including taking voice lessons so she could have a better Texas accent.
Early training
Principal studied privately with Jean Scott, a professor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, in London before moving to Los Angeles in 1971.