You have probably seen her on TV, especially as the spokesperson for the CoverGirl cosmetics line, but you might not have imagined that she is a Brazilian born in Rio de Janeiro.
Model, actress, internationally acclaimed film and television star; producer, author, activist, mother of three, and grandmother of four, Jennifer O’Neill left Brazil at an early age to be raised in New Rochelle, NY, and Wilton, CT. The daughter of an Englishwoman and a Brazilian of Portuguese, Spanish, and Irish descent, Jennifer began her professional life as a model at 15 when she moved with her family to New York City and was discovered by the Ford agency. While attending the prestigious Dalton School, Jennifer appeared on the covers of magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Seventeen.
The world of magazine covers, fame, and fortune quickly led her to seek other goals. At nineteen, she was accepted into the Neighborhood Playhouse – a renowned acting school in NY. It wasn’t long before Jennifer’s talent was noticed by director Howard Hawks, who cast her to star alongside John Wayne in “Rio Lobo.” By 21, Jennifer was a leading actress in films, married, and a mother of her first child.
After her film debut, she accepted a role in the movie “Summer of ‘42.” Her highly praised performance as Dorothy made Jennifer O’Neill a household name, and today, “Summer of ’42” is considered a classic of American cinema.
In search of new opportunities, Jennifer moved to Europe and placed herself 
under the tutelage of Italian director Luchino Visconti. She acted in his last film, “The Innocent,” co-starring Giancarlo Giannini, and had her work awarded.
Returning to the United States, Jennifer continued to star in a succession of notable films such as Blake Edwards’ “The Carey Treatment,” with James Coburn, “Caravans,” with Anthony Quinn, “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud,” with Michael Sarrazin, “Force of One,” with Chuck Norris, “Lady Ice,” with Robert Duvall and Donald Sutherland, and David Cronenberg’s “Scanners,” just to name a few.
The first television movie she starred in, “Love’s Savage Fury,” scored 39 audience points, becoming the highest-rated movie of the year on ABC. The next television project, “The Other Victim,” co-starring William Devane for CBS, was acclaimed as one of the 10 best films of the year.
There’s no way to overlook Jennifer’s impressive campaign as a spokesperson for CoverGirl: as a model for 30 years, she managed to transform the brand into the best-selling makeup line in the country. Jennifer is listed in the Advertising Hall of Fame at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. for her record contract as a model and spokesperson for the cosmetics company in ads and TV commercials.
As if all these activities weren’t enough to fill her days, Jennifer is a constant advocate for social causes. She has served as president of the American Cancer Society and organized a special dinner for World Vision, filmed in Africa, about the HIV epidemic. Jennifer also shares her passion for horses on her farm in Nashville with her Equine-Assisted Hope and Healing at Hillenglade Programs and Events. To date, HHH has served over 4,000 members of the Armed Forces, veterans, National Guard, and their families since 2010.
Jennifer’s passion for horses began in childhood when she still lived in the suburbs of New York. She even attempted suicide when the move from the suburb to the 
city separated her from her dog Mandy and her horse, Monty, “her whole world.”
As an author, Jennifer recently updated her autobiography, “Surviving Myself.” Her other published works include novels, “All That Glitters” and “Res-Q Pals”; literary works, “From Fallen to Forgiven” and “You’re Not Alone,” as well as “Circle of Friends/Just Off Main,” a three-part fiction series.
Still in the film industry, Jennifer has written and directed several short films and commercials and also directed the feature film “Roe V. Wade.”
At 73, Jennifer continues to work as an actress, author, and director, as well as offering corporate lectures.