Olivia's Second Coming - unknown magazine

Olivia Newton-John's changed her image. From white virginal thing to sexy siren, her latest album- Totally Hot - reflects her change in style. But underneath all, Olivia's still as good as gold and here she shares the secrets of her heart.

Question: With your recent successes, Grease and your latest album, you've taken on a radiance; there seems to be a glow about you. Would you say you're a happy person? And what makes you happy?

Answer: Yes! I have no reason to be unhappy. Actually, simple things make me happy. I have all my animals-my dogs. I haven't got children to meet me, so when I come home my dogs come to greet me they're so loving, sweet and gorgeous. Pretty things to look at make me happy: nature, oceans, sunsets, wildlife. And sun. Nights - full, moonlit nights. All kinds of nature stuff. I'm a romantic; I like romantic settings, soft lights and sweet music. A nice meal with friends. I suppose a nice evening for me is to have a few of my close friends around, have dinner and sit around and talk. I think that's the nicest feeling to have your family around you.

Q: Don't you find success a little lonely though?

A: It can be. That's why I tend to keep my close friends. My close friends are the ones I've had for a long time before I had success, because I know their motives and their friendship was there long before I was Olivia Newton-John. Maybe that's just playing it safe of me but I meet hundreds of people and have lots of acquaintances. Over a range of time you find out who are your friends and who aren't. Not that I can honestly say I've been hurt so many times, because it's not true. I've been hurt, but I've been very lucky in that I have good instincts in general about people.

Q: What do you look for in other people in friendships?

A: Sympatico is the only word I can think of; people who are kind and sensitive to the feelings of other people. And I was going to put it first - a sense of humor! Most of my friends are well, pretty funny! (She pauses for a moment, thinking to herself and then breaks with a rippling, silvery peal of laughter.) Yes, those are the most important qualities in people - sensitivity and a sense of humor.

Q: What then makes you sad?

A: Cruelty. Cruelty, and thoughtlessness makes me angry too. And old people because kids and people in general are so insensitive to the old. If I'm ever watching a program on TV about old people, I usually end up in tears. I know it may sound soppy, but they know more than we do. I wish we were more like the Japanese and respected old people instead of hiding them away somewhere. They always have a way of getting to me.

Q: You mentioned cruelty makes you angry. When you get angry, how do you express it?

A: I hold it in to a certain extent. I don't shout and scream. I get a bit terse and just state my case. Only if it's a close friend or a boyfriend can I shout a little bit. But usually I either burst into tears, or try to discuss it. I don't think I take it out on anybody else - just probably myself. I often keep it inside which is bad. But generally, I'm not a very angry person. I honestly can say I can take an awful lot.

Q: What do you think is your best quality?

A: I hate questions like that! I don't have any idea - you'd have to ask someone else, I think. I think a quality I'm lucky to have - rather than my best one - is that I get along with most anybody and I like people. I'm fortunate to like people and to be in this business because I know a lot of singers and actors are shy and aren't terribly social. I'm not shy; I'm not a loner. I like people and really enjoy talking to them.

Q: What's your worst fault - what would you change about yourself if you could?

A: Indecision is my worst fault. Not professionally, but personally I have problems making a choice. I'm always concerned with how other people will be affected. I'm nervous about making a wrong decision, so I'm scared to make one at all. All this I'll have to get over one day.

Q: How do you think the public and your fans see you?

A: I'm not very good on chat shows - I tend to clam up; I'm very inhibited and I can't go on to try to impress people the way some people can. People think I'm shy - which I'm not really or a bit colorless with this virginal white image. I've never tried to conjure up the angelic image, but because of my music they have this nice image of me. Because I'm very particular about my personal life they think I'm trying to be that, but I'm not, that's just how I am.

Q: What's the worst question you've ever been asked?

A: How much money I make-that's the worst question. Questions about my personal life some people ask are also very tacky.

Q: What do you see up ahead for Olivia Newton-John, the person?

A: As I'm getting older I suppose I'm thinking how nice it would be to have a proper home life and a family because I have everything I want and it would be nice to share it. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to handle having children-there are a few things I want to do first. I want to be mentally prepared to have children because it's such a big change. I think my parents and sister being divorced put me off marriage and children a lot because everyone has done it wrong. I want to be the one to do it right!

Q: Professionally, what are your goals?

A: I'd just like to improve. I've accomplished most things that I ever wanted to do and things I never dreamed I would, so it's hard to think. I never thought I'd make a film - now I've made one so I don't know what's next. At the end of my life, I'd like to know that I made other people happy, that a lot of people enjoyed my music. I'd like people to be able to say I was good at what I did that I gave them pleasure. That's all, because that's all you can really hope for.

By Cass Callaghan