Olivia breaks her silence
By Carolyne Randoe
Olivia Newton-John looks radiant and strong. She exudes warmth, compassion and confidence. There are few tell-tale signs that Australia's favorite daughter has endured a lot over the past few years, not to mention the ongoing difficulties of having to raise a 10-year-old daughter on her own. She has had to contend with vicious rumors about the state of her relationship with estranged husband Matt Lattanzi and she is tired of it all. Yet she has emerged from the war of words, a little battle-weary but determined to forge a wonderful family life for Chloe. Recent overseas reports have again claimed Olivia and Matt were giving their 10-year marriage one last try, but her managers have moved swiftly to dispel the rumors. The couple was together for Christmas, much to Chloe's delight, but that reunion was just to give the little girl a family Christmas.
Talking exclusively to New Idea from a Sydney recording studio, Olivia says: Matt and I are separated and we are still very good friends. In fact, I'm taking him out to dinner tonight for his birthday.
Olivia says the split is amicable and divorce is not being considered. Meanwhile, Chloe remains the centre of Olivia and Matt's lives despite them now living on separate sides of the globe. Matt is based in Sydney hosting the Ten network's Pepsi Max Extremists, while Olivia lives in the U.S. Chloe is spending time with Matt while we're in Australia, which is nice, and so am I,
says Olivia, who is hosting a series of Wild Life on the Nine network.
Olivia, 47, is angry about the untrue stories that have surfaced about her marriage. However, she admits she felt betrayed by the country she has always called home. Most of the things written are done without even talking to us,
Olivia says. So much of it is baloney and nobody bothers to confirm it with me.
Olivia says she tries to ignore most fabricated pieces but admits the occasional yarn still makes her blood boil. I read one story about getting a fake fur coat and I thought, Who is this person who's supposed to be me? It was a stupid story and it really annoyed me. I try to laugh, but it's so frustrating. Then again, you know it will be fish and chip paper tomorrow, so you just have to let it go.
Meanwhile, Olivia's professional life continues to soar. Her strength and determination, the same qualities that helped her triumph over cancer, family tragedy and financial woes, are unrelenting. She is starring in a new film called It's My Party, about a man dying of AIDS who throws a party to say goodbye. Olivia describes it as the most grown-up thing I've ever done. It's about love and compassion, friendship and family, and the cast is great: Eric Roberts (Julia's brother), Marlee Matlin and George Segal to name a few.
Meanwhile, Olivia continues to travel the world, often with Chloe in tow, filing stories for Wild Life a job that satisfies her love for all creatures. As a child I enjoyed being with animals more than people and I've always felt an affinity with them,
Olivia says.
She admits the hectic schedule and travelling demands take their toll. She shakes her new tapered locks as she recalls the often dangerous situations she has encountered. In Russia last year we drove nine hours to do a story and the car kept breaking down that was quite a challenge. We were out in the middle of nowhere in unreliable vehicles and no one knew the area.
She adds laughing: But as a gang we have a lot of fun Aussies on the loose and with vodka, can you imagine?
Chloe has seen more of the world than most children her age. But sometimes Olivia must leave her at home. She says: I always like to be within a couple of hours' flying time of her, just in case. But last year I was in Europe and she was in America with her grandparents I didn't like that at all, it makes me nervous. I won't do that ever again.
Olivia still hopes to make Australia her permanent home one day. It just makes sense to stay in America for now. Chloe goes to a lovely public school and I couldn't bear to leave my animals. We have an Irish setter, who's just had pups, a feisty little bichon, a bird and Chloe has a cat. But if I could live six months here and six months in America it would be perfect. I love Australia, it will always be home to me. There's a certain smell and atmosphere that never leaves you once you've lived here. My biggest problem is the blinking quarantine rules. I think they should really change the law. Putting a dog that's used to running along the beach every day into a tiny cage is sure to be harmful ... I'm scared to put my animals through it.
In between her Wild Life commitments on her Aussie jaunt, Olivia found time to tape her first commercial. She sings the theme song for the Tasmanian Department of Tourism's latest television advertisement. Tasmania is a beautiful place and when they asked me to sing I Honestly Love You, which is one of my favorites, I thought it'd make a lovely mix,
she says. Plus my dad used to go there all the time and he loved the place. Unfortunately, we never went together, but he'd always rave about the apples.