Up Close and Personal
Why she's so determined to stay high on life - and what keeps her that way
A highly publicised battle with breast cancer, a double mastectomy, the death of a parent and divorce - singer and sometime actress Olivia Newton-John has been through the kind of hardships that either make a person stronger or see them fall down.
As one of Australia’s most well-known and beloved exports, Our Livvy chose the first option. “I think I’ve grown comfortable with who I am,” she smiles. “All the things I was paranoid about when I was young don’t bother me now.”
Olivia’s can-do attitude clearly agrees with her and radiates through every aspect of her life. She’s been with her partner, cameraman Patrick McDermott, for nine years and, while she shies away from revealing too much about her love-life, she admits, “I’m very good at telling people I love them”. A rule that no doubt applies to her 19-year-old daughter Chloe, who’s followed her mother into the music industry and will release her first single in October.
"Is there anything that scares me? Sharks!"
As well as juggling the commitments of singer, mother, businesswoman, devoted partner and fundraiser for breast cancer, Olivia spends a lot of time travelling between her Australian homeland and her sunny Mediterranean-style villa in LA. OK? caught up with her between trips to talk about life, love, and sticking to her guns.
What makes you happy?</br> Life. I love to be out in nature, particularly on a beautiful day. My daughter Chloe and my animals make me happy, and my friends. And I play tennis and go hiking.
So you wouldn’t call yourself a high-maintenance woman…</br> I’m not really demanding at all, but I like people to do their best if I’m doing mine!
When was the last time you cried?</br> I cried when I watched the Pope’s funeral because the people in Poland were so moved. There was a young boy who spoke [on the news] about his hopes for the future and how seeing all these people together gave him faith for world peace. He said if we can come together now, why can’t we always come together.
Your attitude to life is always so positive - what’s your philosophy?</br> Let’s enjoy the moment… I’ve got through my having-to-face-death experience and I choose to appreciate my life.
You pay close attention to what you eat when it comes to your wellbeing, but have you got any food vices?</br> I try to avoid wheat and dairy. I’ve always eaten healthily, although my German mother loved chocolate, and my sister and I are both dark chocolate lovers.
Do you do yoga or work out?</br> I love exercise. It makes me feel good. I work out every other day and I used to do yoga, but now I do Pilates. On the days I don’t work out, I walk. I find it makes me really happy, which was the thinking behind opening a spa near Byron Bay. It’s called Gaia Retreat & Spa. It’s for relaxing and reconditioning, but you can have a glass of wine if you want.
Do you drink alcohol yourself?</br> My body doesn’t tolerate it very well at all. I can only handle half a glass of wine or an occasional vodka tonic.
Physically, you take a very balance approach to life - does that mean you express emotions easily, too?</br> Fairly. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes if I’m angry with people I’m able to tell them, sometimes not. But I’m very good at telling people I love them.
Is there anything that scares you?</br> Sharks! Growing up, there were days you couldn’t go down to the beach because you saw a couple of white tips in the water. It was terrifying, because you’d be swimming and never knowing where they might be. You’d always think they might be coming up on you.
You fit so much into your life- how much sleep do you need to stay sane?</br> As many [hours) as I can get! I need six to feel reasonable, but I can manage on five. It’s hard with jet lag, as I’m often travelling on such a heavy schedule. My cure for jet lag is walking in the sun. Exercise and fresh air…. If you get the sun at the back of your knees it helps your circadian rhythms. They’re coming up with a machine that they’ll shine on the back of your knees when you get on the plane!
You have a well-known passion for animals and their welfare - what pets do you have at home?</br> I have three cats and three dogs - including a Pomeranian and a Bichon Frise, who’s nearly 18. He used to be very cranky, now he’s forgotten what made him so cross. I had an aunt like that. She wasn’t a very happy young woman, then she forgot what she was cross about and she became very happy in her old age. There’s something paranoid to be said for dementia!
You’ve been with your partner, Patrick McDermott, for nine years now. Would you say you’re still in love?</br> Of course, but that’s very private.
Do you believe in love at first sight?</br> It has happened to me, yes, not that I’ve been in love many times. I always know there’s an instant deep connection, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to go anywhere. Sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it does…
People tend to repeat patterns in relationships. Would you say that’s true of yourself?</br> That’s such a personal question I can’t possibly answer it.
In relationships are you the one who likes to love, or be loved, more?</br> I don’t really think that’s anything you can predetermine. I don’t think you go into a relationship thinking, I want someone to love me more, or the other way round. It turns out to be what it is. I can see that it happens, that you’re always the one who gives more, but I don’t think you should plan on that. I think you have to give and receive.
Can you easily be forced to do something against your will?</br> No. As far as my career goes, I’ve had a lot of resistance to things I wanted to do. My mother wanted me to go to things I was acting school and study, but I always wanted to do it my own way and I stuck to it.
"All the things I was paranoid about don't bother me now"
Is there anything you’d like to change about yourself?</br>
I think I’ve grown comfortable with who I am. All the things I was paranoid about when I was young don’t bother me now, For instance, in Grease I was really worried - I was 29 playing the part of a 19-year-old… I just didn’t have a lot of self-confidence.
Emotionally, I’d like to change, because there are always parts of me I would like to grow. I’d like to be more accepting. I’m a Libran, so my nature is to be ‘maybe this, maybe that, but as I’ve grown older I’ve become more certain of things and that’s a good part of change. At last I’m good at making decisions and knowing what I want!
Interview By Chrissy Iley/Planet Syndication. Additional Text By Rachel Lees. Photographs By Bush/Shooting Star/Austral, Aap, Scope, Wireimage