Olivia Her Incredible Legacy

Hearts around the world were broken last week after the sad news of the death of actress, singer and campaigner Olivia Newton-John, 73, following a long battle with cancer. Olivia found global fame as Sandy Olsson in Grease and her subsequent hit music career - but she was also a mother, wife, best friend, survivor and someone who endured grief and heartache. Closer takes a look at her inspiring story.

The star’s breakout role as Sandra Dee Sandy in Grease in 1978 – with its iconic soundtrack – is still recognised around the world today. When the part was offered to Olivia, she initially declined, believing she was too old to play a high-school teen at 27. But she relented and immediately forged a bond with on-screen love interest John Travolta, who played Danny Zuko.

Their friendship lasted over 40 years, with John writing in his touching tribute, My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, Your John!

Olivia had her fair share of romance through the years, dating Australian actor Ian Turpie and producer Lee Kramer. She married dancer Matt Lattanzi in 1985 – with whom she shares her only child Chloe, 36 – but separated 10 years later, with reports he ran off with their 23-year-old nanny.

Her love life made headlines when boyfriend of nine years, cameraman Patrick McDermott, disappeared while on a fishing trip in California in 2005. US coast guards concluded he was lost at sea. However, in 2016, investigators claimed they’d found Patrick alive and well, living in Mexico with a new girlfriend – but there was no concrete evidence. Olivia was reportedly heartbroken, with friends saying she never found peace.

She did, however, find happiness with husband John Easterling, who she married in 2008. Gushing about their marriage, she said, I have a wonderful, beautiful husband who is just so loving and fantastic. I always tell my friends you’re never too old to find love. I found the love of my life at 59, going on 60!

The Grease soundtrack remains one of the world’s best-selling albums – but Olivia’s success went far beyond Rydell High. With worldwide sales of over 100m records, she became a music icon. Her image took a sexier turn with the release of her 1981 album

Physical – with the title track hitting the number one spot for 10 weeks. At the time, she dedicated the album to her then boyfriend Matt, whom she’d met filming fantasy movie Xanadu. And while she didn’t win big for her film roles, her music career landed her four Grammys.

Olivia’s daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi was born in 1986 with then husband Matt and, as her only child, they were exceptionally close. The pair loved to sing together, even releasing a duet in 2021 titled The Window In The Wall. Sadly, Chloe endured a 15-year battle with anorexia and Olivia was always her biggest support. Breaking down in tears during an interview, Olivia said of her daughter’s recovery, I’m so happy that she’s happy and just shining, and has so much power and strength and bravery.

And just as Olivia was there for her daughter, Chloe was there for her mum amid her breast cancer battle, moving in with her just weeks before her death. Days before her passing, Chloe posted, I worship this woman. My mother. My best friend.

Olivia fought a public battle with cancer for three decades. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 aged 43, which marked the start of a long and challenging journey. In 2013 – 21 years after beating breast cancer – doctors discovered that the star had cancer in her shoulder. She sought treatment but by May 2017, it had spread further. Olivia dedicated much of her time to fundraising for cancer research and awareness – with husband John saying that, In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.

In a tribute to the star, EastEnders actress Samantha Womack revealed last week that she too had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was beginning her own battle with this disease. Tweeting a picture of herself with Olivia and her daughter Chloe, she shared how she met the actress when playing Sandy in the West End, calling it the most magical of evenings.