Olivia plays Cathy
After months of heartache and self-imposed exile, lovely Olivia Newton-John has found herself swept up in the heat of a new passion. Recovering from the trauma of her split with husband Matt Lattanzi, Olivia's life has taken on new energy and focus thanks to the help of one of her oldest friends, Cliff Richard. Olivia found comfort in Cliff's arms in the studio, at least when they teamed up to work on his pet project, Songs From Heathcliff, a musical extravaganza based on the romance novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
They play Heathcliff and Cathy a wild, passionate pair deeply in love, but destroyed by envy and jealousy. The project an album set for release in November and a touring stage show next year was written by Oscar-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice with music by Australian John Farrar, Olivia's producer. This is Cliff's dream and passion. You know something that comes from the heart is so much more powerful, and, with the incredible talent he has got involved in it, I feel it's going to be an amazing success,
Olivia says.
Her new project with Cliff has clearly made a difference to her. The stunning Aussie singer is positively aglow, with a soft, young hairstyle and a fresh-faced look. Her skin appears taut, her cheeks full and rosy, fuelling rumours that Olivia who turns 47 this week has turned to cosmetic surgery. Whatever the secret, the effects are remarkable. At the video shoot for their new single, Had To Be, Olivia was transformed into an ethereal figure draped in chiffon, with a tight black dress accentuating her ultra-fit body. Insiders say she and Cliff were characteristically playful as designers trapped them in a storm of wind machines, voile and tulle to recreate the novel's feeling of the windswept moors.
But the whole setting was unusually sombre for two performers known for their bright, outgoing natures, especially for Olivia, who is best loved for her girl-next-door characters. Cathy is not the nicest of people,
Olivia admits. Although she loves Heathcliff, she decides to marry someone wealthy with social standing. So she gives up her love for Heathcliff and he is tormented by that for the rest of his life.
Olivia agrees that Cathy is very different from the light, happy characters she usually plays. She is strong but full of anger and resentment. Understanding her background gives me an edge in the performance.
But friends say she isn't drawing on any anger or bitterness over her split with Matt that has been amicable and the estranged couple are still in contact.
While this is the first time Olivia has worked with Tim Rice, they have been friends for years. Actually, in the 1970s,
she laughs, Tim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and I all went to see Elvis in Las Vegas. Andrew says we had our photos taken and made into a big pin which Tim has. I can't wait to see it again.
In recent weeks, Olivia has juggled work on Cliff's show with a whirlwind of high-profile social and professional commitments. Mixing with heads of state, fashion gurus and even ex-astronauts, she is on Europe's glitterati A-list. Accompanied by daughter, Chloe, 9 looking prettier than ever Olivia was a special guest at a recent party for jewellery house Van Cleef and Arpels in Monaco, and also graced a Russian gala dinner at Monaco's swish Paris Hotel. She has also just wrapped a busy European schedule for her hit Nine Network series, Wildlife, which now screens in 130 countries. Olivia's filming for next season's series took her to the UK, Turkey and Monaco, with her tour ending in Moscow with a segment on Russian bears.
With both Songs From Heathcliff and Wildlife now to her credit, Olivia is establishing a whole new career as an international star of stage and small screen. However, network sources say all her Wildlife work will be done overseas and at the moment, she has no plans to come home to Australia.
Details of Songs From Heathcliff album.