Trivia

Was maid of honor for Sharon Tate at her marriage to director Roman Polanski in London, England on January 20, 1968.

Appeared in a number of "Playboy" pictorial spreads, her most revealing being the ones in 1967 and 1976.

She and Ed Nelson were the only two actors who appeared on the first episode of Peyton Place (1964) in 1964 and the final episode in 1969. They were the only stars who received screen credit for every episode (although not necessarily appearing in every episode) during the series' entire five-year run.

While interviewed by gossip columnist Ted Casablanca at a 1996 gala viewing of Valley of the Dolls (1967), she candidly reported, while working with some of her co-stars, that Susan Hayward was "spastic", Patty Duke was "energetic but neurotic" and Sharon Tate was "magic".

Was among the women chosen by famed photographer Patrick Lichfield to be included in his 1983 book, "The Most Beautiful Women".

In 1998 she came out of nowhere and appeared in the mini-movie Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story (1998), the story of Jacqueline Susann, who wrote the book upon which Valley of the Dolls (1967) was based.

She is an accomplished photographer.

Patty Duke gave her the nick name "Barbara Starkins" during the filming of Valley of the Dolls (1967).

Turned down the opportunity to reprise the role of Betty in the 1977 television film, Murder in Peyton Place (1977). She did, however, agree to play Betty again in 1985 when Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985) was made.

Is an adopted child. She also adopted her daughter in 1986.

She reprised her Peyton Place (1964) character of "Betty Harrington" for a 1985 TV-reunion movie, Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985).

She was considered for the title role in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983) that went to Maud Adams.

Turned down leading roles in the movies Goodbye, Columbus (1969) and They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). When asked why, Parkins replied, "I must have had my head in the sand".

She was cast as "Anne Welles" in Valley of the Dolls (1967) after Candice Bergen dropped out two weeks before filming was to begin. She originally tested for the role of "Neely O'Hara".

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#81). [1995].

Adopted a daughter, Christina (b. 1986) as a divorced woman, explaining, "I'll find a husband later".

In 1966 she co-hosted the Miss Teen International Pageant with her Peyton Place (1964) costar Ryan O'Neal.

Her mother Ethel Mae Parkins took her to Hollywood where she took dance lessons and was spotted by an agent resulting in an audition and her professional debut with George Gobel.

In 1965, was named "Hollywood's Deb Star of the Year" by the Association of Hollywood Make up Artists and Hairstylists.

In 1965, won the Photoplay Gold Medal Award for Best Newcomer.

Was signed to star in the 1980 mini-series, Scruples (1980), but backed out before filming started.

Favorite perfume is 'Lheure Bleu' by Guerlain.

Best remembered as Betty Anderson in over 500 episodes of Peyton Place she has homes in Beverley Hills and London.

She travels extensively taking photographs.

Unmarried she adopted a baby, Christina, born June 1986.