Olivia in the Mirror - Muziek Parade

Translation from Dutch:

Candid lovely Livvy: I always wanted to be a super-star!

Muziek Parade's Marc Spits had a long conversation with Olivia Newton-John; at first it looked like he wouldn't get to speak to the star of Xanadu, but by pure chance he met manager Lee Kramer at the Synagogue and then it was all arranged: an appointment was made and a few days later he sat opposite the popular and lovely Livvy, who was more candid than ever.

This is part 2 of The Interview (part one is here)

The girl with the ponytail.

The world is shut out. The ever-busy Waldorf Astoria leaves us alone. Besides, the square-built stranger who let me in seems to have his instructions. Olivia seems to have all the time in the world for me. We've been talking for a few hours now.

Livvy has settled down even more comfortably, kicked off her shoes, and says, with that radiant smile: You know, Marc, what my biggest problem has always been: my image! Everyone saw me as the 'sweet, innocent girl with the ponytail.' But that's annoying. I started to suffer from it eventually. I always felt like I had to live up to that image, terrified that the fans wouldn't accept me otherwise. In hindsight, that was nonsense, of course, but I did carry it around for years.

As if she were telling a happy story, Livvy looks so happy at these words. You have to know that 'Grease' actually changed me completely. I played myself in it. In the film, the sweet schoolgirl turned into a sophisticated, voluptuous creature and, lo and behold, it became a resounding success. Through 'Grease' I rediscovered my identity. My inferiority complex disappeared instantly. Imagine, I've been struggling with that for years. I could finally be myself, with all my good and bad habits. That alone made me so happy with Grease.

And you made a lot of money from it, I say! I think that's lame, I don't want to talk about money at all, Olivia snaps, her face turning a little dark. I quickly keep quiet, not wanting to spoil the mood.

Always on the run

That lack of self-confidence and shyness seem to have been Olivia's biggest concerns. It bothered me so much at school. My written work went really well, but as soon as I had to stand in front of the class, I broke out in a sweat. I blushed like a buoy and couldn't utter a word. I always felt that was a real handicap.

And Olivia continues: To get boyfriends, I'd show off. I'd dress flashily, use a lot of blush and lipstick, and think that way I'd get asked out. Of course, that's not true. Later, I started acting in plays. All sorts of roles. It was wonderful to be in someone else's shoes, not be yourself. But in reality, I was running away from myself.

And it wasn't until Grease that you became yourself? No, definitely not.

Olivia says, personally, I've found a lot of peace and self-acceptance after my relationship with Bruce Welch. I just have to tell you about it. When I was in England, I fell in love with Bruce instantly. In my eyes, he was everything a girl could want: a handsome man, kind, fun to talk to.

So he became my manager. He treated me like a queen, honestly. We drove around in a Rolls Royce, ate at the very best restaurants, and the champagne flowed like water. I'll never forget that first evening with Bruce. I was madly in love. We went out for dinner, and in my enthusiasm, I drank so much champagne that I felt terribly ill in the car on the way home. Instead of a romantic night in the arms of the 'sweetest man in the whole world,' I was tucked under the covers and kissed on the forehead —a complete disappointment. Since then, I've never gotten drunk... ...

Bruce was the first man, who accepted me as I was, he accepted my whims, my moods. Because of him, I became myself. Cliff Richard also contributed to that, you know. Bruce introduced me to Cliff, and we became very close.

Cliff wanted to do something artistic with me, like producing, but I said: Cliff take me on tour. He thought it was a good idea, and I toured England and Germany with Cliff Richard. We had many conversations together, and Cliff also said: The past is in the past, we're living in today, make the most of it. Cliff is a very positive guy, who also taught me to live with my mistakes. I always wanted to be perfect.

>My father could do everything.

Why perfect then? I ask. Olivia Newton-John: Maybe it's because of the family I come from. You know, my parents are quite educated. There was even a Nobel Prize. I couldn't keep up at school; I was practically suffocating with nerves. In retrospect, it's probably because of my father. I really loved him, but I was also terrified of him. My father represented everything I wasn't or couldn't do. He was big, strong, confident and really knew EVERYTHING.

And he had a harsh voice. Someone who studied psychology once told me that my father, with his domineering manner, was a significant hindrance to my development. It sounds very plausible, but I dare not agree, because I find it ungrateful to kick against the very foundation I came from. I also don't think it's fair. My parents did a great deal to give me a good upbringing. I just ended up very differently than they wanted.

School and a First Kiss

Did you ever finish school? Olivia says, laughing, No, I didn't.

She seems to think it was a great joke. One day my teacher said, 'Olivia, if you don't feel like studying and attending classes, go home.' I grabbed my bag, said goodbye, and left, never to return. How I dared to do that, I still don't know! But looking back, I regret how it all turned out. I still sometimes feel guilty, as if I never learned anything meaningful. But I have to live with that, as Cliff would say. And I do.

Olivia met her first boyfriend at school. His name was Carl, and he played in a band. He was also a singer, says Livvy. (Editor - I think Olivia is referring to Ian Turpie here)

Carl had also said goodbye to school and had tons of time during the day, because he worked with his band in the evenings. He was always waiting for me. Whether he was really interested in me, I never knew, but one thing was certain, with him I had my first exciting adventures. He took me to the drive-in movie theater, kissed me passionately, we could make love for hours and when I came home very late, my father would be standing behind the door and I would get a scolding.

But your first love in my case, Carl, is something you never forget. Feeling so excited for the first time, not being able to sleep, writing love letters, wanting to die when things don't go your way — I'm glad I experienced it all!

After the problems at school, Olivia's father threatened to enrol his daughter in his Ormond College, where he was the Principal.

When I heard that, I was terrified. If my father really did that, he'd be around me all day, and I wouldn't have a moment's peace. Luckily, I was able to talk him out of it.

Monte Carlo is a paradise.

When Olivia Newton-John was once in Monaco, she met Lee Kramer, and she fell in love again. For him, she was willing to risk her career; for him, she was willing to walk to the other side of the world. Lee was the man in her life.

But how to tell Bruce Welch? That turned out to be no easy task. But as often happens, the solution presents itself. When Olivia and Lee were secretly having dinner somewhere, Bruce walked in. Lee quietly got up, invited Bruce to the table, and told him they were in love. And then it becomes clear how easily something difficult can be resolved.

Bruce behaved like a true gentleman, although he struggled to hide his great disappointment. We reached an agreement and the matter was settled. But at that moment, I couldn't have imagined that such a problem would arise again seven years later.

But I have the fondest memories of Monte Carlo, you understand, because I met Lee there, but also because I performed there regularly for Prince Rainier and his family. They are wonderful people, whom I can consider my friends. I'm in Monaco at least twice a year; I find the climate wonderful and the people very friendly and inspiring. You meet the most fascinating characters, and that's very important in life, don't you think?

I'm alone again

Is everything over with Lee now, or do you not want to talk about it? I have no secrets, and I'm just talking nonsense.

Olivia says spontaneously, Lee and I broke up. Our personalities didn't mesh. That sounds very strange after seven years, but that's how Lee and I felt. And the great thing is that Lee simply remained my manager. I wouldn't know what to do without him. But privately, I'm alone; I don't find that easy, but it's not that bad either. You can immediately see from that that I've matured, that I can accept situations that aren't very pleasant. You can deduce from that that I've really grown up. It's about time, isn't it?

And she beams. I've been so fortunate to always meet good men, I just can't keep them. They've made me richer in the sense that I've learned a lot from them. And that's worth a lot. Lee is a best friend of mine. Bruce still is too. And that's a nice thing to have.

And are you secretly in love with MICHAEL BECK, with whom you play in Xanadu? That's what the gossip magazines say, but it's not true. I'm all alone and I'll just let it be that way for a while. I'll spend time by myself and I can sort things out a bit.

Money well invested

I cautiously start talking about the financial aspects of her job and ask if she has a nice savings account. I repeat what I told you before, Marc: I don't like to talk about money. I want to be very open about a lot of things because your readers have a right to it, I'm a part of my fans, I feel that way, but money matters spoil so much.

I persist and say that it's written that she earned 20 million dollars from Grease. OK, you want to know? I won't mention amounts, I'm not interested in that. That's nobody's business. I can only tell you that I have some excellent people advising me. One of them is Lee. He's a good businessman. He knows how to sell me well, to people who want to use my name. I'm not talking about posters, T-shirts, and things like that — that's taken care of, of course — but actual investments are a completely different matter.

According to Lee, I'm only at the beginning of my popularity. He wants me to set up dance schools in America, he wants to start a chain of boutiques under my name, and he wants to design clothes there under the Olivia label.

He's bursting with plans. I just let him do what he wants because I have a lot of faith in him. Besides, I don't know anything about business; I just want to be happy, do my job, meet friends, and be on my farm. And I'll say no more.

She jumps up abruptly, walks to the door, and as if the heavyset man had been standing with his ear to the door, he appears like a vision to let me out.

I don't want to leave yet and try with, You don't want to talk about oil? (Olivia's business team apparently has a lot invested in this expensive liquid), but she waves me away.

Spontaneously, I kiss her on both cheeks, thank her heartily for the kind welcome, and moments later I'm standing ankle-deep in the plush Waldorf Astoria.

I had wanted to ask if Olivia will ever marry and have children. I had wanted to ask her about her fear of death, her fear of flying. But that's not going to happen this time.

Olivia is as warm as she is decisive; the interview is over. The shy, modest girl has become a decisive woman who will offer her millions of fans many musical surprises in the future.

Text: Marc Spits. Photos: MMM Studio Ltd.