Angela Bowie
Angela Bowie – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Discover the bold, unconventional life of Angela Bowie — model, actress, writer, and muse. Learn about her early years, relationship with David Bowie, creative contributions, and memorable quotes.
Introduction
Angela Bowie (born Mary Angela Barnett on September 25, 1949) is an American model, actress, journalist, and author. She is perhaps most famous for her marriage to David Bowie in the 1970s and her influence on his visual identity, but her story is also one of independence, reinvention, and creative expression. From modeling and writing to shaping glam rock aesthetics, Angela Bowie’s life is as dramatic and layered as the era she helped define.
Early Life and Family
Mary Angela Barnett was born on September 25, 1949 in Ayios Dhometios, British Cyprus.
She had a brother who was significantly older (by 16 years).
Because of the nature of her father’s work and their residence in Cyprus, she was culturally influenced by multiple geographies. She has said she considers herself “a Cypriot by disposition,” though she never held a Cypriot passport.
Her early education was international: from age 9 to 16 she attended school in Montreux, Switzerland. Connecticut College in the U.S. but was expelled after a relationship with another female student.
Youth, Creative Aspirations & Identity
From a young age, Angela had a creative bent. She expressed interest in acting, writing, and performance. She has said:
“I was always interested in acting and writing, and I honestly thought I’d make my name as a scriptwriter one day.”
Her upbringing in schools abroad, alternating between Switzerland, England, and Cyprus, gave her a cosmopolitan outlook and an early experience of being an outsider in multiple places.
When she moved to London, she immersed herself in the counterculture of the early 1970s, which eventually led her into David Bowie’s orbit.
Career and Achievements
Marriage to David Bowie & Influence in Glam Rock
Angela met David Bowie in 1969, through mutual acquaintance Calvin Mark Lee (A&R for Mercury Records). March 19, 1970, in Beckenham, Kent.
During their marriage, she played multiple roles: creative partner, stylist, image collaborator, and public provocateur.
Her influence is sometimes credited with pushing Bowie’s visual identity further, particularly in the early Ziggy Stardust era.
However, their relationship was complex. They had an open marriage, and she herself acknowledged tensions. She also asserts that Bowie, over time, tried to distance or “airbrush” her from his public persona.
They had one son together: Duncan Jones (born May 30, 1971), who later became a film director.
Their marriage lasted until their divorce in 1980.
Acting, Journalism & Authorship
Beyond her association with Bowie, Angela Bowie engaged in various creative endeavors:
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She appeared in films and television, sometimes as herself.
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She published two autobiographies: Free Spirit (1981) and Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie (1993).
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She also ventured into journalism and writing about culture, sexuality, and identity.
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She has produced poetry collections and other literary works reflecting on her life and the glam era.
While her creative output beyond Bowie is less widely known than her time with David, she has continuously reinvented herself — speaking, writing, and shaping her own narrative.
Historical Milestones & Context
| Year | Milestone | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Born September 25 in Cyprus (British administration) | 1959–1966 | Schooling in Montreux, Switzerland | Late 1960s | Moves to England, becomes involved in London arts/culture | 1970 | Marries David Bowie (March 19) | 1971 | Birth of son, Duncan Jones | 1980 | Divorces Bowie | 1981 | Publishes Free Spirit | 1993 | Publishes Backstage Passes
These moments trace the arc from her early life in Cyprus through her central role in 1970s glam, and into her ongoing life as a creative voice. Legacy and InfluenceAngela Bowie’s legacy is unique and multifaceted:
Her life also raises questions about authorship, influence, collaboration, and the complex role of partners in artistic movements. Personality and TraitsAngela Bowie is often described as flamboyant, expressive, and unafraid of controversy. Her own writings and quotes reflect someone attuned to identity, aesthetic, and emotional truth — even when messy. She has articulated a refusal to be passive or sidelined — wanting to matter, to be seen, to speak. For instance:
She has also expressed a defiance toward weakness:
Her sense of self-worth, expectation of devotion, and emotional transparency often come through in her statements:
She has also spoken of being restless:
These traits—ambition, emotional frankness, aesthetic sensibility, restlessness—have shaped how she has lived and told her story. Famous Quotes of Angela BowieHere are some of her memorable lines:
Lessons from Angela Bowie
ConclusionAngela Bowie’s life is entwined with one of music’s greatest icons, yet she is far more than “the ex of David Bowie.” She is a creative force, an instigator, a writer, a visual provocateur—and someone who consistently refused to vanish from the story. Her quotes and actions remind us of the power and cost of being seen. |