Olivia Rollerskating

thanks to Angelina

What could be more natural than a happy family outing on a summer's day. Mother and daughter speed along on rol1erblades, while father keeps pace on his mountain bike.

But Olivia Newton-John has reached this cheerful state after much personal anguish, Three years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her business was collapsing. Now, after a partial mastectomy and extensive chemotherapy, she's fully recovered and financially secure. But her battle to overcome the illness changed her life and her marriage forever. She separated from her husband of 12 years, Matt Lattanzi, in April last year.

Now the closeness they once enjoyed seems to be returning. Olivia, 47, says they are firm friends and that Matt, who is 10 years her junior, is a regular visitor on the Australian farm where she spends part of the year with their only daughter, Chloe.

Olivia is trying to put her life back together, says an insider. She's fully recovered and is now busy with her family.

When Grease star Olivia isn't in her Australian homeland, she lives in Malibu, where life revolves around her 10-year-old daughter. Close friend Randy Greenberg says: Olivia isn't dating anyone at this time.

Speaking candidly about the cancer which changed her life, Olivia reveals: I don't want to make it sound like my nightmare experience, although there were lots of unpleasant moments. I realised that after I was diagnosed with cancer I wasn't facing up to things. I was burying emotions instead of dealing with anger. My father died of cancer on the day I was diagnosed. My Koala Blue boutiques were going under financially. Of course, I was frightened by it all. But I covered it up with a lot of laughter.

Her husband Lattanzi, who met Olivia on the set of Xanadu, helped her through the cancer and cared for Chloe, but it cost him dear. Due to the incredible strain of seeing Olivia go through a life-threatening illness, I became completely severed from my emotions and watched helplessly as my zest for life drained away," says Matt. The fact we do our own thing now is healthy for both of us.

She pauses at the irony of her character in the film facing marital problems. Maybe it was a good catharsis to play it on screen. I could go to work and live it out.

After money problems, Olivia is now earning again, thanks to a weekly wildlife series and a book she's writing about her battle with cancer. So many people want to talk to me about their own experiences with cancer. I know how frightening it is and I try to let them know how I got through so it may help them.

Malibu home from home

When she is in Malibu, home to Hollywood names such as Dustin Hoffman and Goldie Hawn, Olivia shuns the high life and concentrates on relaxing with her daughter. But her favourite refuge is her farm in Australia. I love to sit and look across the valley. It's a wonderful place to heal." Wherever she is, Olivia keeps life simple. "I was trying to do too much before. Now, I meditate, do housework then make Chloe's dinner. It's pretty ordinary stuff really.

Olivia recently starred in the film It's My Party, in which she played a close friend of a man dying of Aids who throws a farewell bash before committing suicide. I think my experiences made it easier to do the film, rather than harder. I'm much more compassionate.

By Alison Stone