Olivia and John's Forbidden Romance! - Woman's Day

Secret marriage talks and how Scientology came between them

From their undeniable chemistry as Sandy and Danny to their rock-solid friendship that spanned decades, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta have always been a cherished duo. Now an in-depth new biography on the late Australian singer and actress reveals how close the Grease lovers actually came to being in love in real life, almost five decades ago.

For A Little More Love, US author Matthew Hild spoke with Olivia's close inner circle about her extraordinary life, including the memorable Grease era and her close relationship with co-star John.

I am amazed at how much people still obsess over that, nearly half a century after Grease! the biographer tells Woman's Day about the intrigue surrounding the pair.

In his book, Grease star Didi Conn's comments about the pair's real attraction resurface, but Matthew also shares a telling revelation from an old colleague of Olivia's.

More than 20 years after Grease was filmed, a musician who had been married to a Scientologist joined Olivia's band and became friends with her, writes Matthew. He says that Olivia and Travolta were very, very close. Almost that close.

Genuine Attraction

The musician recalls a conversation he had with Olivia about John's ties to Scientology. I know the Church of Scientology really reveres him as a very valuable follower, Olivia said. If I had married John, would he have expected me to become a Scientologist?

Clearly, she had wondered about the 'what if?'

It would not have been mandatory, but it would have been encouraged.

Thank you, Olivia replied. That's all I want to know.

Matthew tells Woman's Day, People focus so much on whether the two of them were ever romantically involved when they should be focusing on what a deep and tight friendship they had for as long as Olivia lived.

The co-stars did share a unique bond that lasted from their Grease days to Olivia's tragic passing in 2022. She once described their time on-set as magic, admitting, I had great love and support from him and the feeling was mutual.

Matthew reveals the extent to which John cared about Olivia, saying, During her health battles in her later years, he offered to fly her on his jet anywhere she might want to seek medical treatment.

In the end, timing played a pivotal part in Olivia and John's story. The actor, 72, has said, It almost happened between us a few times, but it didn't. Sometimes life just offers you the wrong timing. We had to leave it as dear friends.

Moving On

Olivia went on to marry and divorce Matt Lattanzi, Chloe's father, and in 2008 she wed John Easterling, her partner until her death. John was married to Kelly Preston for 29 years until she passed away in 2020.

Despite this, Olivia occasionally thought about what might have been. Clearly, she had wondered about the, 'What if?' Matthew tells Woman's Day. But no one I spoke to gave me the sense that she had deep regrets about it. I didn't get the impression that she considered John 'the man who got away.

What Really Happened To ONJ's Ex?

Olivia once said she had to accept and let go of her missing ex.

The mystery of what happened to Patrick McDermott has been simmering for 21 years, and friends reveal his then-partner Olivia had her own dark theories about his disappearance.

She thought he'd been killed, friend Liona Boyd told biographer Matthew. She thought he drowned.

She didn't believe all the rumours about the sightings in Mexico. She said, 'No, I don't believe that.

Patrick was 48 when he disappeared during an overnight fishing trip in California in 2005, almost a decade after he started dating Olivia. The actress described their relationship as on-again, off-again and they weren't seeing each other at the time he vanished.

The missing persons case has continued to fascinate the public, largely due to the speculation he staged his disappearance and fled to Mexico amid money problems.

Matthew says, Olivia tried to distance herself from it, to the point of eventually threatening to walk out of interviews if someone persisted in asking her about it. One reason she was sensitive about it was out of regard for Patrick's ex and child.

John's Crazy Cannes Makeover!

John made his directorial debut at Cannes Film Festival, but it was his wild, very French makeover that commanded all the attention. With his manicured facial hair, glasses and a beret, the actor had fans questioning If he wasn't actually decades younger!

John couldn't resist showing off a bit of 'je ne sais quoi, a source says of John, who piloted his own plane to the premiere for Propeller: One-Way Night Coach with his daughter Ella, 26, who ploys a part in the film. Everyone's convinced he must be dating again, he looks half his age and seems so confident.

However, John insists he's just dressing the part! The old-school directors wore berets and the glasses and I thought, 'That's what I'm doing!'