Olivia Dances Into the 80s - New Idea

How veteran hoofer, Gene Kelly won Olivia Newton-John

IN Grease, she rocked and rolled with John Travolta to the summit of world popularity. This year, Olivia Newton-John tap-dances and roller skates back into the spotlight on Gene Kelly's arm, in a radiant musical fantasy called Xanadu.

But it's not all frivolous fun for Australia's favorite expatriate. The dawn of the Eighties reveals a maturing, more confident performer, genuinely concerned about the world's problems.

Hampered by severe illness and a need to slow her frantic work pace, Olivia farewelled the Seventies with the quietest year in her career. No new records, no concerts, no TV specials.

But at the beginning of the new decade, Olivia is involved in a flurry of activity.

Among the surprises are:

The $17 million Xanadu, due for Australian release this year;
A TV special with Elton John, Cliff Richard and Cher among the guests;
A duet recording with Andy Gibb called Rest Your Love On Me;
Plans to cut a new album in the exotic Bahamas;
Headlining the Queen's Royal Charity Concert at the Sydney Opera House next month, followed by Olivia's first Australian holiday in years.

Actually, I had intended to take all of 1979 off, Olivia told New Idea in her first Australian interview since her concert tour 18 months ago. Then I got sick and it took away three months because I spent that long in bed.

Soon after flying to London early last year to become the youngest OBE recipient, Olivia bravely performed at the Academy Awards with a mystery illness and a fever-high temperature.

It was hepatitis.

It's horrible, completely debilitating and you don't have any energy. she says.

The road to recovery led to a health farm in San Diego, 2½ hours drive from Los Angeles.

Although there for only a week, it helped the ever-slim Olivia regain the kilo she had shed.

It was the best thing I could have done because I had to force myself to build up my energy and stamina again, she says. That's how I got into tap dancing.

I used to have a different class every day, just something new to do, and they had tap-dancing, which I fell in love with.

When she landed the Xanadu role a month later, Olivia had some tap sequences included in the script.

She had spent two years searching for a suitable movie to follow her record-breaking screen debut in Grease. The highest-grossing musical ever filmed, Olivia's percentage reportedly earned more than $10 million.

Her saucy, black skin-tight outfit in the final scene did a lot to dispel the tiring girl-next-door image.

That outfit is maybe a bit more... what's the word daring than I'd been, a little more adult, she says.

But that's only because I'm growing up, finally, I suppose.

At the huge Hollywood party which closed filming on Xanadu, Olivia wore a cheeky white mini-dress, 20 cm above the knee.

Since Grease, I've been much more adventurous with clothing, I guess, but that's all. I'm not really changing much about myself.

It's probably called confidence. I think it comes with age actually. As you get older, decisions aren't so heart-rending, they don't tear you in half anymore.

After High-Stepping Her Way To World Fame In Grease, Our Favorite Expatriate Is Now Tripping The Light Fantastic In Another Sure Musical Success, This Time On The Arm Of Veteran Film Performer Gene Kelly

Xanadu is a modernised Forties. romantic fantasy, Olivia plays one of nine daughters in Greek mythology who come to earth to help a young man's wishes come true.

The film's original roller-disco concept was dropped, although some roller skating remains.

Olivia had not skated since childhood. and fell and cracked a bone. Soon after recovering, she fell again on the same spot.

I was in agony, she recalls. It was the 'smiling-through-clenched-teeth' routine.

Veteran performer Gene Kelly agreed to do the movie only if he did not have to dance or sing. But he enjoyed himself so much that he did both, even choreographing and directing one dance scene with Olivia.

That was an incredible experience, something I never dreamt I would do, she says.

Gene's song has been written by John Farrar, Olivia's Australian-born record producer who won an Oscar nomination for his million-selling Grease song. Hopelessly Devoted To You. John is scoring Xanadu and writing half the songs. The others will be written by Jeff Lynne, leader of the Electric Light Orchestra.

Shortly before filming began, Olivia's long romance with her 28-year-old manager, Lee Kramer, ended.

Coincidentally, their previous split had been during the making of Grease. This time it seems permanent.

He remains her manager and friend, and Olivia's only comment is: We're working together, we get on very well, we're still good friends, so it's really been fine.

For now, she is sharing her Malibu ranch with her 11 dogs, four horses and one cat.

At 32, the prospect of marriage seems more remote than ever.

I'm not negative about marriage, I just want it to be right when I do it. Olivia says.

When I marry, it will be to have children and because he will be the person I've chosen to stay with.

But despite her love of children, Olivia now has a genuine concern about bringing them into the world.

I used to be a bit of an ostrich; I'd hide my head in the sand and didn't really want to know what was going on, she admits. Now I've become much more conscious of the world situation.

Photo caption: Olivia enjoys a quiet moment. Forced to take most of 1979 off, she is happy to have in year of hard work planned for 1960, including a trip home to Australia.

By Lindsay Scott