Jennifer O'Neill

Professional Trajectory

Jennifer O'Neill is a Brazilian-born American author, model, and former actress. She was born on February 20, 1948, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and moved to the United States as an infant. O'Neill first gained prominence as a teenage model and as a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics, a role she held for three decades. Her acting career began with her feature-film debut in the comedy film "For Love of Ivy" in 1968, followed by a lead role in Howard Hawks's Western film "Rio Lobo" in 1970. Her breakthrough role came in 1971 with Robert Mulligan's period drama "Summer of '42," where she played the wife of an army serviceman during World War II, who becomes the subject of a teenage boy's romantic attraction.