Olivia's getting Physical about her image
New York- Olivia Newton-John hasn’t always been the most accessible personality around. No, the gorgeous Aussie didn’t have a falling out with the press either. She’s been known to be a bit demure, which isn’t hard to understand considering the romantic nature of her past musical successes.
But when Olivia took the plunge into film making opposite John Travolta in “Grease,” we began to see a slow transformation from a shy and somewhat sheltered superstar, to an in-dependent career girl who has boldly asserted herself professionally and socially.
Yes, there is a distinct correlation between Sandy, Olivia’s “Grease” character and her own being, which is why the 33 year old (she looks 23) beauty chose that as her first movie vehicle.
“I’ve always had a kind of Doris Day image which will probably always stick with me,” Olivia told me from her home in Malibu. “It’s kind of nice at 33 to be thought of like that, but it is not realistic.”
When asked whether she was more like “old” Sandy as opposed to the “new” Sandy, Olivia teased, “I’ll leave that to your imagination well. I’ll tell you, there’s a little bit of both in me. When I was younger, I was more like “old” Sandy, but now I’m a little different.”
Damn the torpedos
Hence, we have the Physical LP which features Olivia in an entirely new light. It was risky, almost chutzpah-like, but it is ultimately proving to be a brilliant stroke of genius, ‘cause it has not only stayed on top of the charts for the last three months, but Physical has also spawned a TV special for ABC this week.
“It will be very different from what’s been done on TV before. I did the whole album on videotape with the musical lyrics. It’s music and visuals - no comedy. I think this kind of thing is an important medium in music, which I may use as a concept for an album next time,” she added.
Although she doesn’t look like the type of woman who would cause a ruckus with her music, she did cause quite a brouhaha in Japan recently, when she canceled a tour because the local fisher-man were slaughtering dolphins. As you’ll see on the special this week, Olivia has a particular fondness for the species. “I tried to explain to them that I wasn’t picking on them. I told them that it was an international problem. Dolphins are an intelligent species. We have no right to destroy things and just bump them off,” the superstar painfully explained.
As of this writing, I’m glad to report that the problem with the Japanese has been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction at least for now anyway.
Still to come
Beyond her TV special, Olivia has just landed another feature film called “Kangaroo.” It is based on a book by legendary author D.H. Lawrence and will be lensed on location in Australia. Bryan Brown, the Clint Eastwood of Aussie films, will play opposite Newton-John.
“I loved the script. It’s a very straight part about an Australian girl and that’s very natural for me. I feel I’m capable of doing a good job. You know good scripts are hard to come by these days. That’s why I’m looking to develop my own projects,” Olivia claimed.
Olivia has also proved to be a wonderful role model for youngsters who want to enter the music business. She possesses an inherent vitality which has shielded her from depression. “I’m kind of fatalistic about the pressures to produce hit after hit. There’s just no sure way of knowing what will happen. Yes, there is pressure, but if I worried all the time, I’d end up in a mental hospital,” Olivia said matter-of-factly.
“My motivation though, is to keep on going and improving. It’s a challenge to yourself. It also keeps you young. Right now I’m enjoying my successes and because I have achieved so much, this is like icing on the cake.”
Steve K. Walz- Television Writer