Olivia Stars in Mum's Love Story

Ed - another project that didn't happen.

IT'S ACADEMY Awards night 1999, and the presenter reads: The Oscar for Best Actress goes to Olivia Newton-John!

The glitzy audience cheers and the Aussie songbird's eyes swell with tears as she collects Hollywood's most coveted award. Excitingly, that scenario has a great chance of becoming a reality as Olivia prepares to step into an emotional and dramatic role in which she'll have to age from 17 to 70. It's a role that not only has box-office success stamped all over it, but one with a deep personal meaning, too.

That's because the movie, titled Mrs Jones and written by Olivia's sister Rona, is based on the extraordinary life of their mother, Irena. While sources close to the production stress that some parts are dramatised, others say the story-line is an account of a dangerous World War II love triangle involving Irena's character Irena, a German soldier and Olivia's father Brinley's character Hadleigh, who was a British spy. Irena's relationship with the German prisoner of war, Max, seems innocent until she is arrested for questioning on suspicion of passing him secret information.

According to an insider, Irena told Rona the tragic story of her friendship with Max while her husband was away from home, serving as an intelligence officer with the British government. In the movie, decades later and long after Hadleigh had died Ilena runs into her soul mate again, but sadly he is now too ill with Alzheimer's disease to share loving memories. But in a tear-jerking scene, 70-year-old Ilena - played by Olivia will spot a gold chain that she gave him almost half a century before!

Soon after hearing her mother's story, Rona developed a screenplay and, when she told Olivia about it, the Australian star was keen to play the part herself. From then on, there was no question that the movie would be made Olivia sees this role as a breakthrough dramatic performance for her, says the insider. The movie is a kind of Bridges of Madison County meets Casablanca. The film will be a strongly Australian affair, with an Aussie producer and, if Olivia has her way, Hollywood hit Gillian Armstrong as director.

Jack Thompson, now co-starring with Clint Eastwood in Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, has been asked to read for a major role, while several German actors are being considered for the part of Max, and British comedian Billy Connolly is being asked to play the British security officer who interrogates Irena. The title track and additional music for the soundtrack will be written by John Farrar, Olivia's friend, composer and lyricist of many years, with Olivia herself providing the vocals.

With her big 1978 hit Grease set for a 20th anniversary re-release splash, in many ways the timing couldn't be better. "Olivia is no fool," says the insider. "With the profits from the soundtrack album, she could end up making a great deal of money from this." Because of the nature of the role, Olivia will have an acting coach. Of course, she can act, the insider says. But she has never taken on this kind of role before so she is taking lessons from a top-notch dramatic coach.

For Olivia, Mrs Jones will be a true family affair. Not only is the movie about her mother but filming will take place in Australia and London, and Olivia hopes to have her daughter Chloe, 11, with her for as much of that time as possible. It also gives her the chance to work in tandem with her sister. Our source says, Working on this picture is certain to bond Olivia and Rona even more tightly. Irena must be very proud!

Ed- It's Irene not Irena