Best known as Pamela Barnes Ewing on Dallas, Victoria Principal was one of the main reasons fans tuned in to the hit primetime soap. Now 74, she’s as captivating as ever. Born in Japan in 1950, Victoria moved often as a child due to her father’s Air Force career, attending 17 schools—including the Royal Ballet School in London. Her childhood was reportedly difficult, shaping her into a driven, self-reliant woman.

She gained fame in the 1970s with roles in Earthquake and later Dallas, where she became a household name. But in 1987, at the height of her fame, she left the show to focus on her own goals.