This TV star was once a stunning beauty who graced the covers of magazines

Television history is filled with unforgettable shows, from Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie to Friends, The Sopranos, and Twin Peaks. But some productions become classics without needing several seasons.   The Thorn Birds was one of them. First aired in March 1983, the ten-hour miniseries was based on Colleen McCullough’s 1977 novel. Starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Bryan Brown, it…