Olivia's Back in Business
She has everything - fame, fortune and a happy family - but the show must go on
THE ONLY problem confronting Olivia Newton-John at the moment is finding herself a new manager to replace Australian-born Roger Davies, with whom she recently severed links. Davies is now Mick Jagger’s creative consultant and has worked on Mick’s new album due out this month - and his forthcoming world tour. He’s also responsible for planning Tina Turner’s 12-month world tour, which began in March this year.
Because of Mick and Tina. Davies had so much work in Europe that he decided to establish a London office. Olivia felt that he should be on call whenever she wanted him, but that was impossible because of all his other commitments.
Ken Kragen is now tipped to take over her career. He organised the USA for Africa appeal and was Lionel Ritchie’s former manager, but fell on hard times after splitting with the superstar singer and songwriter. Interestingly. Ken is also reviving the careers of the Bee Gees.
That minor problem aside, Olivia has all she could ask for: a blissfully happy marriage (“It gets better and better”) an irresistible child, and a promising new career.
Now she’s back in the recording studio for the first time in two years, putting down her first album since the sexy, explosive Soul Kiss. And she promises that this album will be as much of a surprise as her last one.
“I’ve grown up a lot.” she said. “Motherhood changes you. You become more settled more mature. Your priorities change and family comes first -and I think those things will come through in my work from now on. I’m a more rounded person.”
As with her other albums, including the blockbuster Physical, which made musical history in 1977 by staying at number one on the charts for 10 weeks (a record which still hasn’t been broken) the new album will be produced by long-time pal John Farrar.
Due for release early in the new year, it signals the beginning of Olivia’s return to her career something she put on hold when she discovered she was pregnant in September 1985.
She vowed then that she would devote her time to her baby and spend the first year or so of its life being “just a mum”.
Chloe named after the perfume Olivia wore when she first met her husband, actor-dancer Matt Lattanzi arrived blonde, blue eyed and enchanting more than 18 months ago.
Chloe came when Olivia was about to celebrate her 38th birthday. Now, less than 12 months off 40, she is thinking of having another child. She admits that as a teenager she always wanted as many children as possible, but now thinks two would be a good number.
“But I am definitely not pregnant now,” Olivia said, “and have no plans to become pregnant for a while yet. I’m enjoying Chloe too much and I’m back working again.”
Olivia might have been out of the public eye a for a couple of years, but she has certainly not been idle. In addition to working on her showbusiness ventures, she and close friend Pat Farrar co-owner of Olivia’s Koala Blue boutique and Aussie wife of her producer John have become “mogul store owners”.
Olivia and Pat have franchised their highly successful Koala Blue boutique. Currently. Los Angeles has two Koala Blues, selling everything from Vegemite to Olivia’s own sportswear and kids fashion designs. There’s also a Koala Blue in San Diego, one at Long Beach, another in San Francisco and, before the year’s end, 20 more are expected to open in Chicago, New York, Dallas, Washington and other US cities. Next year the boutiques will also open across Europe and in England.
While her own career has taken a backseat to motherhood, her husband’s is going ahead in leaps and bounds.
Matt, who starred in the movie My Tutor four years ago, is making his mark as a solid actor-comedian. He recently co-starred in Roxanne with comedian Steve Martin. The movie directed by Australia’s Fred Schepisi places the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story in a contemporary setting.
For a time she thought of moving back to Australia permanently with Chloe and Matt but, despite having a property in NSW, where family and friends go to get away from it all, she now dismisses talk that she will move from Malibu.
“We have no plans for moving to Australia full-time, but we get over there as often as possible”, she said.
Home now is very much her newly renovated house in Malibu, with its sea views, its beach and its menagerie of five horses, countless cats animals and six dogs.
“It’s the sort of thing you dream about but never quite expect to come true,” she said. “But for me it has. I am so lucky.”
Story: Jenny Irvine in Los Angeles Pictures: Stephen Harvey/Shooting Star