Following the sad passing of Dame Olivia Newton-John aged 73, we look back at her inspirational life.
From the early, ‘If Not for You’ days of her singing career, through to super-stardom after starring in the musical, Grease and beyond, Olivia Newton-John has been one of our most treasured artists and a Dame of the British Empire. But admiration for Olivia goes way beyond her talents and all-round pleasant persona.
Olivia Newton-John’s early life
Born in Cambridge, in the UK in September 1948 she and her family later emigrated to Melbourne, Australia when Olivia was aged six. She soon developed a love for performing and by age 14, she was part of a girl-group, as well as being a regular on Australian radio stations.
During her teens and 20s, her singing career really took off, achieving chart-topping singles throughout the 70s with hits such as I Honestly Love You, Have You Never Been Mellow and Please Mr Please.
It was 1978 when the world fell in love with Olivia as Sandy Olsson in Grease. Following the success of Grease, she went on to have numerous number one hits including Physical. Throughout the 80s, she became an icon thanks to her 80s makeup and trendy fashion.
How old is Olivia Newton-John?
When Olivia passed away, she was 73.
How old was Olivia Newton-John in Grease?
Although she played the part of 17-year-old Sandy, Olivia was in fact 29 when she played the role. It was later revealed John Travolta had to convince her to take the part after she was sceptical she could play a teenager.
Did Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta date?
While their chemistry on screen was electrifying, the pair did not date despite enjoying a long friendship. Talking on a podcast, Olivia explained: "We were both with other people when we were filming and I think, respectfully, it just didn’t happen."
Is Olivia Newton-John married?
Olivia married her second husband John Easterling in June 2008. Home for Olivia and John was a Californian ranch where she peacefully passed away.
Olivia Newton-John's daughter
Olivia has one child, a daughter Chloe Rose, from her previous long-term relationship with actor Matt Lattanzi.
Olivia Newton-John's cancer diagnosis
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, again in 2013 and for a third time in 2017 when it was discovered to have spread to her bones, Olivia proved just how brave, strong and determined she was.
Positive thinking and also discovering the joy in the little things in life greatly helped Olivia deal with her illness in addition to the constraints put on life due to Covid-19. “It has been quite wonderful to be in one place and not be able to go anywhere, because my whole life has been on a plane or bus or doing shows,” she admitted.
“To be in one place to watch the seasons, plant something to eat and actually eat it, has always been my dream. “And I even feel guilty saying that this has been nice for me being home to sleep and be quiet; it’s been very healing. I was always fussy about my house being perfect then I realised, I’m the person that lives here – it doesn’t matter if there’s a little mess on the floor. I’ve learned to let stuff go a lot more. “I feel so lucky that I have a wonderful husband with me, a lovely daughter who visits as often as possible, great friends and am surrounded by animals I adore.”
She called herself a ‘thriver’ rather than a survivor of cancer. Speaking previously she said: “I think every day is a blessing. I don’t know what my time is, but I need to enjoy my life. So, I’m going to eat a cookie if I want it and if I want to have a little bit of wine, I’m gonna do that, too. Because the joy of life and everyday living has to be a part of that healing process as well.
“I don’t discuss prognosis because, in my opinion, if they give you a percentage such as, ‘This many women get this and they live this long’, you can create that in your mind and make it happen. The way you think affects everything so it’s important to have good thoughts – mind, body and spirit are one.”
Olivia lived each day as it came – as we all should. She ate well, took natural remedies and was a firm believer in the benefits of medicinal cannabis – having been introduced to it by her husband who runs the Amazon Herb Company. “I was nervous about it in the beginning,” she said. “But I could see the benefits once I started using it. It helps with anxiety, it helps with sleep, it helps with pain. I don’t like to tell people what to do but a holistic approach works for me so I’m putting it out there,” she said.
Olivia's charity work
In 2012, she founded the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Melbourne and then launched the ONJ Foundation with the aim of raising funds to research alternative treatments and therapies to complement and work alongside more conventional cancer treatments. “There must be kinder therapies that we can have for cancer so that’s my dream,” she said. “To find kinder therapies that work and boost the immune system rather than poisoning it, so I’m working towards that with a focus on plant medicine that has been so helpful to me.”
Olivia was known for standing up for what she believed in and even as early as 1978 refused to perform in Japan to protest the slaughter of dolphins there. Her passion for environmental issues was later recognised by the United Nations who appointed her a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme in 1979.