Olivia Newton-John: a life in pictures

published 9 August 2022

Tributes are being paid to Olivia Newton-John after the award-winning actor, singer and activist died yesterday morning following a long battle with breast cancer.

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She was offered her iconic part as Sandy in Grease at the age of 28, but insisted on a screen test with Travolta before accepting, because she was worried that she might be “too old for the teenage role”, said the BBC. Despite her initial concerns, the film became “the biggest box-office hit of 1978”, and gave Newton-John three hit singles, You’re The One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted to You and Summer Nights, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress”.

Newton-John with her then singing partner Pat Carroll on the River Thames in London on 1 June 1966. The pair toured European clubs as a pop duo until Carroll’s visa expired and she was forced to return to Australia.

Pouring a cuppa for her fiance, guitarist Bruce Welch of The Shadows, at their home in Hadley Common, Hertfordshire, in June 1970. She broke off the engagement in 1972.

Newton-John performs Long Live Love during the final dress rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest at the Dome, Brighton, on 6 April 1974. She represented the UK and came fourth, losing out to Abba.

Dancing with Travolta in a still from Grease, which propelled her to international stardom.

Producer Allan Carr and Newton-John attend the Grease premiere party at Studio 54 in New York City on 13 June 1978.

Rehearsing with British disco sensation Andy Gibb for the Music for Unicef Concert: a Gift of Song benefit concert, which was staged at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York City in January 1979.

With her then-boyfriend Matt Lattanzi in a car outside Le Dome Restaurant in West Hollywood, California, on 31 January 1981. The couple married in 1984 but divorced in 1995.

Striking a pose alongside her only child, Chloe Lattanzi, at a party following the opening night of the opera Carmen at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, in 1998.

Newton-John with boyfriend Patrick McDermott and daughter at the Los Angeles opening of Mamma Mia! at the Shubert Theatre in Century City, California, on 26 February 2001. Cameraman McDermott “mysteriously vanished on an overnight fishing trip off the California coast in 2005 soon after they called it quits”, said the New York Post.

With daughter Chloe celebrating the 35th anniversary of 1980 musical-fantasy film Xanadu at Share Nightclub, Las Vegas, Nevada, on 9 August 2015.

Newton-John with husband John Easterling at the Steve Irwin Gala Dinner at the JW Marriott at LA Live on 21 May 2016.