What would a day bring if you were Ringo Starr? One moment, you’re riding high as a Beatle, and the next, you’re in a harrowing car crash that could have ended everything. It was 1980, and the legendary drummer, now 85, found himself cruising with actress Barbara Bach, the star of The Spy Who Loved Me, after meeting on the set of Caveman. Their budding romance took a sharp turn when dense fog rolled through, obscuring visibility on the road. Moments later, Starr had to make a split-second decision to avoid a looming lorry at the notorious Robin Hood Roundabout.
Swerving sent their white Mercedes into a skid, leaving Starr fighting for control. The car collided head-on with two lampposts, and while the crash was terrifying, both emerged with only minor injuries. It’s almost hard to believe they walked away from such a wreck; the car itself was a total loss. Yet, in a bizarre twist of fate, just half a mile down the road was the site where the legendary Marc Bolan met his tragic end in a similar crash three years earlier.
Emerging from the wreck, Starr displayed not just his strength but also unwavering affection. After ensuring Bach’s safety, he made a surprising detour back to the doomed vehicle to grab a pack of cigarettes. Talk about keeping your cool in a crisis!
Fast forward three weeks—the duo decided to take their relationship to the next level. Bach, now 77, told her father about plans to marry the iconic Beatle, and they tied the knot at Marylebone Town Hall in 1981. Since then, they’ve remained a beloved Hollywood couple, despite not having children together. Starr, however, has three kidsons Zak and Jason, and daughter Lee, from his previous marriage to Maureen Cox. Bach has children Francesca and Gianni with her former husband, Augusto Gregorini.
Bach’s rise to stardom was impressive in its own right. As Anya, she captured hearts alongside Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977. Their romance blossomed after filming, turning what began as a friendly rapport into a deep, undeniable connection. “We changed from friendly love to being in love,” she reminisced. “It wasn’t quite love at first sight, but it began to grow within days of meeting each other.”
Their love story, born amidst the chaos of celebrity and tragedy, serves as a reminder that sometimes, life can throw you curveballs—but love has a way of steering us through the storm.