The Eyes of Orson Welles with Beatrice Welles

Beatrice Mori Gerfalco Welles has devoted her extraordinary life to a multitude of humanitarian causes, in addition to her tireless dedication to the preservation of the work of her father, Orson Welles. In 2018, she co-created and co-starred in The Eyes of Orson Welles  - directed by Mark Cousins - which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The sole heir of the Orson Welles Estate, her vigilant work includes overturning Turner Broadcasting’s attempt to colorize Citizen Kane, her father’s masterpiece-- and the most studied film of all time.  She has curated Orson’s artwork, personal correspondence, and scripts at the University of Michigan’s Special Collections Library. 

Young Beatrice grew up traveling, living around the globe with her closely-knit nuclear family. This reluctant childhood actress never wished to follow her father’s colossal footsteps to the stage and screen. Encouraged by her papa to work and follow her passions, she was gifted a horse for her birthday on the set of Orson’s favorite film, Chimes At Midnight—in which Beatrice appeared.  

A rising star in international equestrian competitions, she purchased former racehorses, training them for show jumping. A severe knee dislocation halted her riding career and at fourteen she pivoted to modeling. In the era before the lucrative supermodel contracts, she appeared in Vogue, and on the runways of New York, Milan, London, and Paris---modeling for Halston, Valentino, and Chanel. Inheriting her father’s creative force, she launched her own line of cosmetics, worn by Princes Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers, and Oprah Winfrey. She later crafted handmade leather handbags and jewelry from her Sedona studio.  

A longtime global advocate for animals and the environment, Beatrice continues to champion organizations making a difference. She is a founding member of the Animal Foundation, and a pioneer of T-N-R—Trap, Neuter, Return, for feral cats in Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. I’m delighted to welcome this generous global environmental and animal rights activist to this episode of Intrinsic Drive ®.

 Intrinsic Drive ®.  is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton and Andrew Hollingworth  is sound editor and engineer.