Starry-eyed Olivia, the girl from Down Under
She’s a real honey of a girl from Australia with a sunshine smile and a talent for singing to match her looks. A lovely Dylan number called “If Not For You” started her on the road to success back in 1971.
A snappy dresser who adores boots, looks fab in pants and thinks Cliff Richard is “fantastic”, the singer in question is none other than Olivia Newton-John.
“Originally I wanted to be a vet,” says the blue eyed, fair-haired singer who is still mad keen on dogs and horses and outdoor life. She first began singing in a coffee bar in Australia, but when she won a trip to England as a prize in a talent contest, she decided to make it her career.
Once in swinging Britain, Olivia teamed up with another Australian friend Pat Carroll and the two hopefuls from down under did a double act. “We were both very green,” she recalls and adds with a laugh, “We kept forgetting that we were both on stage and got the mike leads all tangled up!” Money was not always very plentiful, and she remembers running short on the Continent when on holiday and having to pinch rolls from the breakfast table!
As one of Britain’s top singers Olivia, “Livvy” to her friends, has come a long way since her school girl singing days. In three short years the dreamy-eyed unknown has transformed into a glamorous star yet she’s retained her friendly, relaxed manner and sense of humour.
“I’m very much for taking things as they come,” she commented, “I’m obviously ambitious to a certain extent but I wouldn’t have been shattered if I hadn’t made it. I’m a bit of a pessimist I think so I didn’t think I would be successful”.
“I adore the sun,” says Olivia looking wistfully out the window, at a London drizzle. Not surprisingly, she nips home to Australia whenever possible to see her family and pick up a sun tan. Naturally slim, to the envy of most other girls, she can eat like a horse and never put on an ounce!
On fashion she says, “Most pop singers are very extreme but I’m rather a conservative dresser really.” Conservative or not, she looks just great whether it’s jeans and casual clothes for her favourite sports of riding and swimming, or glamorous evening wear for the stage.
Says Olivia, “I’ll sing any song provided I like it. Mind you I’m pretty hopeless at picking hit material - I’m not commercially minded, I suppose.”
“On tour I spend a lot of time writing songs in my dressing-room. I play the guitar then record the words with music, if I think they’re good enough.”
The road to stardom hasn’t always been easy even for a girl as talented as Olivia. Back in 1970, she was to star in a film called “Toomorrow” made to launch a new pop group, but in spite of massive publicity, the whole venture never got off the ground. “Still, it taught me how to take some of the knocks which are part of the business, commented Olivia who’s adventurous enough to want to make another film.
“Joan Baez was my idol,” said Olivia referring to her school-girl days when she first heard “Banks Of The Ohio” on a Baez album. But the girl from Melbourne added her own distinctive touch and turned the traditional song into a hit which topped charts around the world and earned her a Silver Disc in Britain.
More recently, in numerous stage and TV appearances where she wears those gorgeous long dresses and pant suits to such advantages, she has been singing two chart successes “This Is Life”, and “Take Me Home Country Roads”. With a personality as pleasing as her voice, she was voted top female singer in 1971 and was named as Britain’s second most popular female singer last year.
One of the Britain’s most popular and handsome singers Cliff Richard has given Olivia a helping hand in her career. Since their first duet record, she has made many guest appearances on his TV show and has toured Britain and the Far East with him. “We’re just very good friends,” says the lovely blond who must be one of the most attractive bachelor girls in show business. “I’ve no intention of marrying anyone at the moment,” she says. “I’m much too busy with my career.”
Another handsome singer who Olivia has appeared with recently is Sacha Distel when they did a revue called “Paris to Piccadilly” and a concert tour of Britain. “Sorry he’s not my type,” said Olivia firmly about the French singer who is a great favourite in England.
In a recent interview, Olivia named Princess Grace as her choice of a perfect lady, but for the girl of 1973, there are few who could compete with this lovely singer with the sunny smile - Olivia Newton-John!