Expecting a Baby
Olivia Newton-John "I'm Expecting A Baby. I Dream Of A Little Girl"
Translation from French
The world of rock isn’t exactly a model of balance. You seem to be an exception to the rule?
ONJ: Madness has never appealed to me. Nor has flashy publicity. I had a very simple, very happy childhood. I was raised by down-to-earth people. That leaves its mark. In Australia — where I started my career — you can’t get a big head. Otherwise, you pay a very, very high price!
You don’t even have a little hidden madness?
ONJ: Surely. But I won’t tell you about it.
And animals? Your house looks like a zoo. Every time you take a step, you’re afraid of stepping on a cat?
ONJ: When I was very little, my best friend was a dog. Perhaps, without realizing it, I was already disappointed by humans.
You told me once that for years you felt guilty about having been so successful.
ONJ: That’s true. I found it very unfair that some of my friends, brimming with talent, hadn’t had the same opportunities as me. I desperately wanted to be forgiven. Over time, I managed to overcome my remorse.
You and Matt, it’s a long-lasting relationship. Six years already! What’s it like being a couple?
Matt: A dream! Olivia has a great sense of humor. We’re also best friends. Before her, I’d never lived with a woman. Coming from a family of ten children, I only had one thing on my mind: to be independent and have my own bedroom. And then I met her.
What’s so special about her that made you change your mind? -
Matt: She completely respects me for who I am, my feelings, my mood swings. I never have to answer to her. I just want to run into the arms she offers me! - Olivia is a star.
Matt, your acting career is still in its infancy. Don’t you feel frustrated?
Matt: Not at all. It’s never bothered me. When Olivia is successful, it’s a success for both of us.
Olivia: Matt has always been very self-assured. Our meeting was like something out of a fairy tale. I was the star of a film, he was the male stunt double. It was love at first sight. But unlike most men, he treated me immediately like any other woman, not like some kind of unattainable “thing.” That’s what I liked about it.
Matt: My dream would be to be a world-renowned but anonymous writer. I don’t like fame. I’ve seen too much of what Olivia went through: the death threats, the pressure, the cat-and-mouse games with the paparazzi. It’s really not my thing.
Matt is ten years younger than you, Olivia. How do you feel about his youth?
Olivia: At first, that age difference bothered me a lot. For over a year, I kept our relationship a secret because of the gossip. Now his youth gives me a new lease on life. He’s bursting with energy, with vitality, new ideas. I feel like a teenager again.
You sing, you dance, you make movies, you’ve won Oscars. What more could you want?
ONJ: A child! There’s nothing more pathetic than an aging pop star. I’d like to retire slowly, write songs, take care of my shop in Los Angeles, and, above all, take care of my family.
So, when’s it due?
ONJ: End of February!
You’re 37. Why did you wait so long?
ONJ: I wasn’t ready. If I’d had a child at 20, I never would have been able to do what I’ve done. Now, I want it with full awareness.
Who made the decision?
ONJ: We talked about it a lot. But it was mostly me. It was now or never. I warned Matt about the enormous responsibility involved.
They say happy people have no story.
ONJ: It’s true. Happiness is what happens in your heart. The greatest successes in the world will never replace love.
Matt: Last night, I slept with my hand on her stomach. We dreamed of a little girl.
Interview Dany Jucaud, Photos Albare Navizet
Photo captions: At their Malibu ranch, singer Olivia Newton-John (37) and her husband Matt Lattanzi (27) take care of their animals themselves.
Bottom right, with the horse Judge, the boxer Digger, and the setters Jackson and Bear.