When I Dream of Jeannie premiered in 1965, Barbara Eden quickly became one of television’s most recognizable faces. The whimsical sitcom about a genie in love with an astronaut catapulted her into stardom and cemented her place in pop culture history. Yet, despite her fame and the iconic pink costume, Eden insists she never viewed herself as a sex symbol.
According to Fox News, speaking at 94, Eden looked back on the role that defined her career and the public fascination it stirred. “I had no idea,” she admitted when asked about being labeled a sex symbol. For her, Jeannie was not sexual but playful, forthright, and devoted. “She was learning everything about this time. She was 2,000 years old, which people seem to forget,” she explained, noting that the character’s innocence was part of her enduring charm.
Barbara Eden On Playing Jeannie
Barbara Eden stressed that she approached the role with humor rather than glamour. “She was an entity—she wasn’t a real woman,” the actress explained. That distinction helped Eden avoid thinking of Jeannie in terms of being a sex symbol. Instead, she played her as curious, loving, and eager to understand the modern world.
Even so, the show’s costume made waves. Eden’s pink harem outfit became one of television’s most talked-about ensembles, and conversations often centered on what it did—or did not—reveal. While Eden laughed at the attention, the debate over her covered belly button became a nationwide sensation.
The Belly Button Phenomenon
Columnists teased Barbara Eden about the fact that her navel rarely appeared on screen. Soon, fans across the country joined in, writing letters and speculating about the so-called mystery. “Suddenly, the standards and practices realized I had a belly button,” she recalled with amusement. To comply, the studio raised the waistline of her costume and added layers of fabric.
Eden remembered men visiting the set just to stare at her midriff, a response she found both silly and entertaining. Through it all, she remained grounded, never allowing the attention to redefine her. Even today, she insists she never embraced the image of Barbara Eden as a sex symbol, choosing instead to celebrate the comedy, magic, and joy that I Dream of Jeannie brought to audiences.