It’s been 30 years since she hit our screens in Grease wearing those impossibly tiny black trousers but Olivia Newton-John seems to have barely changed.In recent years she’s had a string of personal blows, including cancer, divorce, the disappearance of her partner and her daughter’s anorexia.
But now, just after celebrating her 60th birthday, Olivia Newton-John is happier than ever and says that her secret to staying
so young-looking is simple – her recent marriage.
But now, just after celebrating her 60th birthday, Olivia Newton-John is happier than ever and says that her secret to staying
so young-looking is simple – her recent marriage.
guess I’m lucky,” she smiles. “Genetically, I’m like my mum and she looked great right up until her death in 1989.
“But I think the real secret is that I am very, very happy. I have a wonderful new husband and we’re very compatible. I’m having the best time and I’m in a great place emotionally.”
Olivia married health guru John Easterling, 56, in June this year in a mountain-top ceremony in Peru.
“But I think the real secret is that I am very, very happy. I have a wonderful new husband and we’re very compatible. I’m having the best time and I’m in a great place emotionally.”
Olivia married health guru John Easterling, 56, in June this year in a mountain-top ceremony in Peru.
They met 15 years ago through mutual friends. Olivia’s dog had just had puppies and she gave one to John. Then, two years ago, he turned up at one of her shows and brought the dog, who’s now 13 and called Sherlock.
“I loved the dog and then I grew to love John,” she giggles. “John and I are so well matched and have so much in common. He makes me smile all the time and that’s so important.”
Sherlock also plays a part in helping Olivia stay young and fit, as taking him for walks around their Florida neighbourhood is part of her daily fitness regime.
“I try to do something each day that involves getting out in nature,” says Olivia. “Walking Sherlock is perfect. I play tennis and go to the gym three or four times a week, too. I feel great and certainly don’t worry about being 60. It’s just a number.
“I feel alive, fit and active. I have no plans for retirement. My only concession to getting a little older is that I like to have a cat-nap in the afternoon. After that, I can push on through anything.”
“I loved the dog and then I grew to love John,” she giggles. “John and I are so well matched and have so much in common. He makes me smile all the time and that’s so important.”
Sherlock also plays a part in helping Olivia stay young and fit, as taking him for walks around their Florida neighbourhood is part of her daily fitness regime.
“I try to do something each day that involves getting out in nature,” says Olivia. “Walking Sherlock is perfect. I play tennis and go to the gym three or four times a week, too. I feel great and certainly don’t worry about being 60. It’s just a number.
“I feel alive, fit and active. I have no plans for retirement. My only concession to getting a little older is that I like to have a cat-nap in the afternoon. After that, I can push on through anything.”
There’s no denying the star still has an enviable figure but could she get into Sandy’s skin-tight black trousers now?
“I’ve still got them,” she laughs, “But I’m not saying if they fit. I’ve never tried them on again and I don’t want to.”
Olivia, who likes to describe herself as a “thriver” rather than a survivor, has been through a succession of ordeals since her breast cancer in 1992.
“In those days it was still known as the ‘Big C’ and I was very scared,” she says. “I found the lump when I was checking myself.
“A mammogram and needle biopsy both came back clear but, because I was aware of my own body, I knew something was wrong and
got my doctor to do further tests.
“My self-checks and instinct saved my life. I can’t think about what might have happened if I hadn’t been so vigilant.”
Olivia’s father died the same weekend she was diagnosed and her 11-year marriage to actor Matt Lattanzi, which was already crumbling, fell apart soon afterwards. She later fell in love with cameraman Patrick McDermott but three years ago he disappeared after a fishing trip off the Californian coast.
There was no evidence of an accident and it emerged he had massive debts, prompting stories that he’d faked his death. Olivia eventually had to admit he was never coming home. Then last year, her 22-year-old daughter Chloe, a singer and actress, developed anorexia, from which she has now recovered.
“Nobody escapes with nothing,” says Olivia with a shrug. “I’ve been through cancer, divorce, loss and bereavement but they are things most humans go through. And Chloe is fine now.”
She adds: “Grease changed my life in the most amazing way and I’ve had such an amazing life. When things go wrong you’ve got to believe you will get through them and focus on the positive things in your life.
“I’ve had bad moments of depression but I’ve always reminded myself I have a lot to be grateful for.
“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was terrified but I made a decision I was going to be all right. I had a young child and I had to live.”
Counselling and therapy helped her through the tough times. “For the first five years I worried about the cancer coming back but not any more,” she says. “I don’t allow myself that thought.
“I’ve still got them,” she laughs, “But I’m not saying if they fit. I’ve never tried them on again and I don’t want to.”
Olivia, who likes to describe herself as a “thriver” rather than a survivor, has been through a succession of ordeals since her breast cancer in 1992.
“In those days it was still known as the ‘Big C’ and I was very scared,” she says. “I found the lump when I was checking myself.
“A mammogram and needle biopsy both came back clear but, because I was aware of my own body, I knew something was wrong and
got my doctor to do further tests.
“My self-checks and instinct saved my life. I can’t think about what might have happened if I hadn’t been so vigilant.”
Olivia’s father died the same weekend she was diagnosed and her 11-year marriage to actor Matt Lattanzi, which was already crumbling, fell apart soon afterwards. She later fell in love with cameraman Patrick McDermott but three years ago he disappeared after a fishing trip off the Californian coast.
There was no evidence of an accident and it emerged he had massive debts, prompting stories that he’d faked his death. Olivia eventually had to admit he was never coming home. Then last year, her 22-year-old daughter Chloe, a singer and actress, developed anorexia, from which she has now recovered.
“Nobody escapes with nothing,” says Olivia with a shrug. “I’ve been through cancer, divorce, loss and bereavement but they are things most humans go through. And Chloe is fine now.”
She adds: “Grease changed my life in the most amazing way and I’ve had such an amazing life. When things go wrong you’ve got to believe you will get through them and focus on the positive things in your life.
“I’ve had bad moments of depression but I’ve always reminded myself I have a lot to be grateful for.
“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was terrified but I made a decision I was going to be all right. I had a young child and I had to live.”
Counselling and therapy helped her through the tough times. “For the first five years I worried about the cancer coming back but not any more,” she says. “I don’t allow myself that thought.
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