Star April 28, 1981
Victoria Principal Reveals How Andy Gibb's Love Has Mended Her Broken HeartBeautiful Victoria Principal told how she bounced back from the heartbreak of a shattered marriage to find love and perfect happiness with pop idol Andy Gibb.
And describing Gibb as “the only person I’m interested in,” the Dallas star gave a fascinating insight into what she expects from the man in her life and from a relationship as she revealed why the younger singer meets her specifications.
She also explained why her former husband, actor Christopher Skinner, did not fill the bill, and how the marriage that began after a passionate whirlwind romance suddenly collapsed.
Declaring she was not jealous of Gibb’s adoring women fans, 31-year-old Victoria said: “I am attracted to him for the same reasons they are.”
“I like a man who will let me be strong and capable in the areas where I am strong and capable, and yet who will let me lean on him when I need his support.”
“I like an iron hand and a kid glove. Make that a mink glove.”
Then, telling what she doesn’t like in a man – unfaithfulness – Victoria added: “I don’t go for men born weak in that area. I won’t buy it at all.”
“A girl can make passes, but the man must respond. If he is satisfied, he just wouldn’t notice. It would be like eating too much.”
Using the same analogy, Victoria said when she was married to 22-year-old Skinner, “it was like having the best meal of my life. I was absolutely satisfied.”
The initial attraction between Victoria and Skinner was so explosive that they decided to marry after their third date.
And they did in a quiet ceremony with no guests in Las Vegas.
“There was no question about us not getting married,” Victoria recalled. “It was what I wanted. It was not sacrificing any freedom.”
“We did everything together, really enjoyed each other. It was total commitment. That’s what marriage should b.”
But things started to go wrong between them. Victoria said: “After a while, Christopher realized he really did want somebody who was home more, someone with more traditional working hours. He wanted a more traditional marriage.
After Victoria split from Skinner, she went into seclusion, dating nobody and calling girlfriends to try and find comfort.
"I needed that time alone." she explained. "I was like this little animal who had been recuperating in a cave for a long time. And then one day I saw the light and ventured out very carefully, finally sticking my head out."
Gibb, who at 21 is 11 years Victoria's junior, was the first man she saw.
And although she once dated such celebrities as Frank Sinatra, Desi Arnaz Jr., financier Bernie Cornfeld and football pro Lance Rentzel, Victoria is now determined to be a one-man woman with Gibb.
She said: "I think I should do what is right. Why should I see others when I have met one person I like very much?"
But when asked about the possibility of marrying again, she quipped: "Well, I haven't put any want ads out."
Victoria said the combination of her success on Dallas and finding the perfect man in Gibb had rounded off her happiness.
She explained: "I've always wanted success very badly. Some people want it, get it and then find they didn't want it after all, that other things were more important."
"But I do want success, and that's why I'm happy now. It's exactly what I wanted. I became more relaxed, leaving room for an ongoing relationship."
Before finding fame on Dallas, Victoria had become so disillusioned with her career prospects that she gave up acting to become a manager, representing such clients as comic Dick Martin.
After appearing in a picture called "The Naked Ape" and a revealing picture layout in Playboy magazine, Victoria said she became filled with doubts about both herself as a person and her ability as an actress.
But becoming a businesswoman didn't solve the problem. Inside she knew she could act and that a good break would change her life.
Now, after getting that break, she feels more confident about the future and believes she can handle any ups and downs.
"If Dallas goes into decline, I think I'll learn more about myself," she said philosophically.
"I'll find out if I have it in me to do the things that are important outside of Dallas."
"It will be a measuring stick for me as an actress, a test of how well I put myself together. I know there will be a downside, but I am making plans for that period. I'll be secure financially and emotionally. I'll take a vacation and forget about it. You can't have this kind of popularity forever. Nobody ever has."
