Olivia Newton-John
26 September 1948
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
5' 6" (1.68 m)
Actress/singer Olivia Newton-John was born on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. She lived there until she was five years old, and her family relocated to Australia when her father was offered a job as the dean of a college in Melbourne.
When she was a teen she returned to live in England with her mother, after winning a singing talent contest. She had many hit singles and appeared on TV series with Cliff Richard as well as in the film Toomorrow (1970). For a while she was engaged to Bruce Welch, a member of The Shadows, who backed Richard.
Olivia took the advice of a friend, and in the mid-'70s left Britain to take up residence in America to help further her singing career. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Li Richards
Spouse
Amazon John Easterling (30 June 2008 - present)
Matt Lattanzi (15 December 1984 - 1995) (divorced) (1 child)
Trivia
She lived in Cambridge, England, when she was a young girl. Soon after dropping out of Australia's University High School when she was in her mid-teens she returned to live in London, England. She had taken the suggestion of her favorite teacher to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. She later moved to Los Angeles in the mid-'70s, where she still resides.
Sister of Rona Newton-John and Hugh Newton-John, a doctor.
Underwent surgery for breast cancer.
She grew up in both England and Australia. In 1954 (at age 5), she moved to Australia but returned to live in England about 10 years later when she was 15.
In 1975, she moved to the USA where she had already become well-established as a pop and country singer.
Her winning of a talent contest in Australia led her back to England and on her path as a successful singer, performer and actress.
Best known as a singer, she has over 25 Top 40 singles, more than half of which went Top 10, including five #1 hits.
Well-known songs include "If Not for You", "If You Love Me, Let Me Know", "Let Me Be There", "I Honestly Love You", "Heart Attack", "Have You Never Been Mellow", "Summer Nights", "You're The One That I Want", "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Magic", "Xanadu", "Physical", and "Twist of Fate.".
Her biggest hit was "Physical" which sold over 2 million copies and spent 10 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 (beginning 21 November 1981).
In 1988 she visited Australia to make a television special titled Olivia Down Under (1988) to coincide with the Bicentennial. She and Cliff Richard performed and Prince Charles and Princess Diana were also present.
Received a special mention in The Goodies (1970) episode: "Saturday Night Grease".
Chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
While recording her first hit "If Not For You," Olivia's dog was in the studio with her and at one point knocked over a microphone stand. The noise is still evident in the song today (during the instrumental bridge near the end of the song).
Her ex-brother-in-law is Jeff Conaway, who co-starred with her in Grease (Brillantina)(1978).
Aunt of actress Tottie Goldsmith.
Daughter Chloe Lattanzi born in 1986.
Her song "Physical" was banned by a radio station in Provo, Utah for its "suggestive" lyrics. She still had a concert in the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, filmed for video.
Ranked #95 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
She received awards for her charity work and the "Officer Of the order of The British Empire" (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II. Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th Annual ARIA Awards. (15th October 2002)
In 1992, she returned to New South Wales, Australia, to recuperate after battling breast cancer.
She currently has homes in both the USA and Australia.
She performed the background vocals on John Denver's "Fly Away" song.
She represented Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974.
Was a close friend of Karen Carpenter.
Ex-aunt-in-law of Steven Lee.
A great-aunt of Layla Lee-Curtis.
Fills her house with lilies and orchids.
Loves cosmetics and always does her own make-up for photo sessions.
Never leaves home without her passport and lipstick.
The most treasured item in her wardrobe is a beautiful opal and diamond ring that her mother left her.
Would like to achieve total peace before she dies.
Underwent surgery for breast cancer, she declared bankruptcy, and her father died of liver cancer.
On June 30, 2005, her long-time boyfriend, cameraman Patrick McDermott, went missing after going on an overnight fishing trip on a sport fishing vessel out of San Pedro, California. He was located in April 2009 by "Dateline NBC" investigators. Missing since January 2005, he was found in a Mexican beach town, living under the name of Pat Kim and working on a yacht that carries tourists in and out of a marina near Sayulita, Mexico.
She was awarded an O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1979 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to the performing arts.
Her performance as Sandy Olsson in Grease (Brillantina) (1978) is ranked #89 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
She was awarded the A.O.(Officer of the Order of Australia) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organizations supporting breast cancer treatment, education, training and research, and the environment.
Fractured her coccyx while filming the dance sequence "Suddenly" in Xanadú (1980)
Appeared on "People Weekly" magazine's first official pop cover (24 February 1975).
Shortly after the success of Grease (Brillantina) (1978), was considered for the lead role in a film version of "Evita" (one of many versions that were scrapped before seeing the light of day). She had recorded "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" on her 1977 album, "Making a Good Thing Better".
Olivia's paternal grandparents, Oliver John and Daisy Newton, were Welsh. Olivia's maternal grandfather was German Jewish physicist and mathematician Max Born (the son of Gustav Jacob Born, an author and histologist). Olivia's maternal grandmother, Hedwig (Hedi) Ehrenberg, was of German Jewish descent on her own father, jurist Victor Ehrenberg's, side, and of German descent on her own mother, Elise Marie von Jhering's, side. Elise's father, Olivia's great-great-grandfather, was legal historian Rudolf von Jhering. Through her maternal grandmother's father, Olivia is a third cousin of British comedian Ben Elton.
Ranked #92 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
Daughter of Brinley Newton-John and Irene Born.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
A breast cancer survivor, the singer-actress is a spokesperson for the eponymous "The Liv", a heart-shaped, self-examination device for women to aid in the detection of breast lumps.
Won the very fist GRAMMY Award in the "Video Of The Year" category for "Physical" (1982).
On 26 June 2012, the Australian government issued a semipostal postage stamp to help raise funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre Appeal. The stamp was valued at 60¢. It was sold in panes of ten stamps for $8, with $2 going to the appeal.
Her first husband, Matt Lattanzi appears in Grease 2 (1982).
Pictured on a 60¢ Australian commemorative postage stamp in the "Living Legends" series, issued on 18 January 2013. Other performers honored in this issue were John Farnham, Paul Kelly, Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, Kylie Minogue, AC/DC, Cold Chisel, INXS, Men at Work, and The Seekers.
Promoting her new album "Indigo: Women of Song" in the UK and beginning her 2005 U.S. tour. [April 2005]
Continuing to record her as yet untitled breast cancer-themed album for Hallmark, with Chong Lim and the John Farnham Band, in Australia. [June 2005]
Releasing "Phenomenal Woman", the first single off her forthcoming album "Stronger Than Before", to radio and the Internet. The track features the voices of music legends Patti LaBelle and Diahann Carroll, among others. [July 2005]
In Australia to record and visit with friends and family. [May 2005]
She was considered for Catherine Beddows in La monja poseída (1976). The role eventually went to Nastassja Kinski.
Her first hit song "I Honestly Love You" was featured in Jaws (1975).
Olivia Newton John insisted on a screen test for the role of Sandra Dee. She was concerned that she didn't have the acting skills and that she would look too old to be a high school student. The screen test would allay those fears. She got the part that had originally been meant for Susan Dey who was Laurie Partridge in The Partridge Family, but turned it down on her manager's advice.
Personal Quotes
There's a rumor going around that I'm Miss Goody-two-shoes from Australia. Well, that's a laugh. I'm really Miss Goody-two-shoes from England!
I do have high standards, but I don't expect anything from anyone that I don't expect from myself.
Family, nature and health all go together.
There's a balance in my life. There's reality, and there's the part that looks really glamorous, but we're all just people in the end.
To me, luxury is to be at home with my daughter, and the occasional massage doesn't hurt.
My cancer scare changed my life. I'm grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life.
(explaining why she chose to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, and forestall any press leaks) I am making this announcement myself, to save enquiring minds ninety-five cents.
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(Gifs and photos: source_Tumblr)
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