THE SQUIZ
Tributes have rolled in for Dame Olivia Newton-John after her family said she died “peacefully” at her home in California yesterday. The Grammy Award-winning singer/actor was best known worldwide for playing good-girl-gone-bad Sandy in the hit 1978 musical film Grease. And a breast cancer diagnosis in 1992 saw her become a notable advocate and philanthropist for research into the disease and care facilities. Singer/friend John Farnham said she was a “tenacious fighter, a beautiful voice and a loyal friend”. 

TELL ME MORE ABOUT HER…
Born in Cambridge in England in 1948, Newton-John’s family moved to Melbourne when she was 6yo. A talented youngster, she regularly appeared on TV and won a trip to the UK on Johnny O’Keefe’s show Sing Sing Sing. There she slogged it out until she found success in 1973 with the ballad Let Me Be There. It established her as a country singer who went on to win some big country music awards with a string of hits. By 1977, Newton-John was living in the US, and a chance meeting with the producer of Grease at a dinner party hosted by Aussie Helen Reddy changed everything again. The film catapulted her into superstardom and a new musical direction that peaked with her 1981 megahit Physical. Newton-John married Matt Lattanzi in 1984 after meeting on the set of the supernatural/roller-disco film Xanadu – they had a daughter, Chloe. That relationship ended in 1995, and in 2008 she married John Easterling. They co-founded the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund to support research for plant-based cancer therapies.

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT HER I MIGHT NOT KNOW…
• She represented England in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, coming 4th behind a little-known Swedish group called ABBA, who won with Waterloo. ONJ was not a fan of the song chosen for her, Long Live Love – or the frilly dress…

• Her most iconic line in Grease – “Tell me about it, stud” – was unscripted. The film’s director was initially concerned the squeaky-clean Newton-John wouldn’t be able to pull off Sandy’s transformation, but she proved him wrong.

• She was a passionate advocate for medical cannabis, which she used to treat the pain caused by her cancer. Through her philanthropic ventures, Newton-John aimed to improve cancer care, including at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne.