Board members of ONJCRI. (Back row) Prof. Keith Nugent (proxy to Prof. John Dewar), Linda Nicholls AO, Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO, Sally Capp (Front row) Sue Shilbury, me, The Hon. John Brumby AO (Chair), Richard Balderstone. Absent: Prof. John Dewar, Prof. Ashley Dunn.
I’m so proud to be a part of this incredible state‐of‐the‐art centre, where we combine research, wellness and patient care all under one roof. The Wellness Centre is very important to me as it has been my dream to create a healing place within the hospital grounds – a sanctuary of peace, beauty and relaxation for cancer patients.
Dr Hongdo Do, A/Prof. Alex Dobrovic, Prof. Matthias Ernst, John, me, Anthony Carbines MP, Prof. Jonathan Cebon, Kim Tsai. A thrilling day in Melbourne, 2018 – we received an $18 million grant from the Victorian government!
Walking for Wellness in Melbourne. It’s always an inspiring day. (Left to right) Brett and his wife, Jane, Kira (Fiona’s daughter), Tottie, Fiona, me, John, and my friends Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell.
In April 2008, completing this 23-day, 228-km trek along the Great Wall of China to raise funds and awareness for the ONJ Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. Thanks to my dear friends (left to right) Didi Conn, Sir Cliff Richard, Diane Heavin and Ian Thorpe, and to the team of celebrities and cancer thrivers for supporting my dream!
What an honour to perform at the Sydney Opera House in 1980 alongside Paul Hogan (left) and Peter Allen (right), and to meet Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Meeting the inspirational environmentalist Margaret Owings with my friends Nancy and Jim Chuda.
Launching Dr Ernie Bodai’s breast cancer stamp, which has raised many millions for breast cancer research. And introducing my Liv Kit to encourage women to do regular breast self-exams.
This young man, Campbell Remess, founder of Project 365, touches my heart by making teddy bears for cancer patients all around the world. He made me a rainbow bear that I treasure, and he brought bears for the patients at the ONJ Centre. Thank you, Campbell.
Creating Gaia Retreat & Spa with my very special mate Gregg Cave has been very gratifying and it is an important part of my life. It’s my favourite place in the world to relax and renew.
We are so proud to have won so many awards for Gaia – here’s Gregg and me with co-founders Warwick Evans and Ruth Kalnin.
Gaia literally started as a dream and now it’s an internationally award-winning spa destination, thanks to Gregg’s vision, love and attention.
One of the highlights of my career: singing for my country and the world with John Farnham at the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2000 (above) – and, as a double honour, carrying the torch (with Pat Rafter, below)!
I was so honoured to receive an honorary doctorate from La Trobe University in Melbourne on 15 May 2018. Here are the closing words of the acceptance speech I gave: ‘Letters make words, words have power; be conscious of your words, be kind with your words, be true to your word. And for all the doctors in my family and all the brilliance, my mother’s words really inspired me the most – “If you could help someone, darling, you should do it.” So I leave you with those words – and “don’t stop believing”!’
My lovely family and long-time friends are always there to celebrate with me!
Performing throughout the years!
Just before Xanadu premiered, I was shocked to discover that the Prime Minister of Australia had nominated me to receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from the Queen.
I was excited when I heard about the nomination. I guess they chose me because I put Australia on the map by making the most popular high-schooler on the planet, Sandy, an Aussie. Deep down, I could hardly believe it. I remembered that little girl coming over on the big boat from England and now I was about to receive something so incredibly prestigious – from the Queen of England.
The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace with both of my beaming parents and my sister in attendance. It was a wonderful excuse to gather the family together. I remember standing there in my little white suit with my red hat and red gloves, next to a group of elegant grey-haired men in morning suits. We were all there to receive different kinds of awards, and some of the men were even being knighted. It was so impressive.
I stood behind the roped-off area while Queen Elizabeth II, looking so majestic in a perfect pink cashmere twin-set and pearls (no crown), handed me my award and said a formal ‘Congratulations, dear!’ It was such a regal moment with the beefeaters standing on both sides of the Queen. She may have said more, but my heart was beating so loudly I couldn’t hear anything.
I did a well-practised curtsey and accepted the award, then searched for an exit sign and found a much-needed toilet at the bottom of a long stairwell. After ‘powdering my nose’, I managed to actually fall up the stairs of the royal loo. Not many people can say that! I didn’t hurt myself, but it remains an embarrassing and funny memory in a beautiful day.
Looking back, most of my success I owe to fellow Aussie and Commonwealth friends who produced me, wrote for me or managed me over the years. The list of names is long – Peter Gormley, John Farrar, Roger Davies, Stevie Kipner, Peter Allen, Peter Hebbes, Fleur Thiemeyer, plus support systems including Lizzie Kipner and, of course, Pat. We have lovingly been referred to as the Aussie Mafia.
This brings me to another Aussie collaboration called ‘Physical’.
In 1981, Aussie songwriter Steven Kipner and British musician Terry Shaddick wrote a very catchy song called ‘Physical’ for Tina Turner. Tina thought the lyrics were a bit sexy for her and suggested to Roger Davies, her manager and my friend, that they offer it to me. (Thanks, Tina!)
At the same time, Lee Kramer was managing a bodybuilder named Frank Zane who was Mr World. Lee had heard the song ‘Physical’ in its early stages and thought it would be perfect for an upcoming Silver Surfer movie, based on the comic, that he had optioned for Frank to star in. Lee told me about the song and then casually asked, ‘Maybe you could sing it?’
I took a listen to a rough demo the songwriters had created and said, ‘Yeah, it’s a really good song. It’s very catchy.’
I agreed to do it and went into the studio in LA where my trusted John Farrar produced it for me. I loved what we did, but then had a panic attack about it. This song was raw and edgy. Maybe it was too raunchy? The lyrics had me singing: There’s nothing left to talk about unless it’s horizontally! In another moment, I’m crooning, You gotta know that you’re bringin’ out the animal in me.
Stop, stop, stop! I was having a Sandy #1 moment!
All of a sudden, I didn’t want to ‘hear my body talk’. I didn’t want to get physical!
I was flying back to America from a trip to London with my new manager Roger Davies when I began to freak out. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t put it out,’ I fretted to Roger. ‘It’s just too suggestive.’
‘She was concerned that she would lose her wholesome girl-next-door image,’ Roger Davies recalls. ‘I said, “Don’t worry, you can blame me.”’
It was too late to take it back anyway. The record company released it and ‘Physical’ began climbing the charts.
Maybe if we redefined the idea of getting physical, it would take on a whole new meaning. That was my last-minute panic suggestion.
‘Let’s make it about exercise . . . that’s it! We can take the focus off the other part . . . Sort of like a double entendre,’ I suggested. ‘We can do this in a video.’
‘I persuaded Olivia into financing a full-length video of the entire Physical album with all thirteen songs,’ Davies remembers. ‘At the time pop videos had only just begun, and Olivia became a pioneer of the genre with her introduction of plot lines into music videos.’
We hired English director Brian Grant after I decided to take this big financial risk. Grant loved the concept of me working out at a gym doing actual aerobics (all the rage back in the day) while I sang the song to some rather big guys who really didn’t want to exercise in the first place.
The fin
al shot of the video is two guys walking out arm in arm. I never thought twice about this gay subplot. I’ve always had gay friends and family members. Love is love is love. I’m so proud of Australia’s decision in 2017 to finally recognise gay marriage.
Of course, my look in the video was key. And it turned out to be perfect timing. As we got ready for the shoot, I was set to attend the Grammys. Armando Cosio met me at my hotel before the awards to decide what to do with my long hair. Armando was extremely talented, really funny and adorable, plus I trusted him.
‘Tell me about your outfit for the Grammys, Liv?’ he asked, trying to find some hair inspiration. I was going to hit the red carpet in red jodhpurs and purple boots.
‘What if we chop off your hair?’ he asked, holding his breath and expecting a quick ‘no way’. Long hair was still the most popular style.
‘Okay,’ I said.
I’ve always been pretty adventurous, and it felt so liberating to let all that hair fall to the floor as a new, sleek look began to materialise. There is nothing like a little shearing to make you feel free!
I believe when you cut off your hair, you’ve shed the past, and a new look is always a great way to move forward.
That it was!
When it came to the ‘Physical’ video, I asked my friend Fleur to design a look for it. She had been cutting up t-shirts for rock and roll artists for a long time, so on the set, she grabbed her pinking shears and chopped away. What was left was a blue cut-up shirt that she would tie over a white tank top and pink tights. She added a basic white headband. It was such a fun outfit that I joked, ‘I should start a clothing store.’
Well, I did, but not until later!
The video was an instant hit. It taught me to not be so critical of myself and my choices. Now when I look back, I have to ask: What the heck was I so worried about in the first place?
It wasn’t long before women at gyms across the country were dressed exactly like I was in that video. That haircut also became all the rage and stores were selling out of headbands, while scissors everywhere were slashing old t-shirts. It turned out to be amusing and fun to think of myself as a trendsetter and to shake the world up a bit.
Let me hear your body talk indeed.
Fortunately, we sold ‘Let’s Get Physical’ to run as a prime-time TV special, which debuted on 8 February 1982. It was watched by 35 per cent of the US viewing audience, and it picked up an Emmy Award for New Video of the Year. We never looked back. The single ‘Physical’ went on to become number one for ten weeks in America while the video earned me a Grammy Award and global recognition.
There was some flak along the way too. In Utah, I found my songs banned from the local radio stations, which was a career first for me!
By the way, we shot the Physical album cover on the beach in Hawaii with the wonderful, world-renowned photographer Herb Ritts who became my good friend. He was such a lovely gentleman and sadly died in 2002. I will never forget him creating an iconic photo of me in a red tank top with a white headband, head tilted back, and wet from a dip in the ocean.
‘Physical’ would become my biggest hit, and Billboard would eventually list it as number one in its Top 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time, number one in its Top 100 Songs of the 1980s, and number six in its All-Time Top 100. Pretty amazing!
Seems like the things in life that I was most afraid of ended up working for me. This was raunchy and out of my comfort zone, but it did take my career to another level. To think I was so worried about this song at that time seems funny. Compared to what’s on the radio today, it sounds like a lullaby, don’t you think?
The big lesson is I learned to face my fear – and do it anyway.
By 1983, I was ready to take a break from touring, which takes so much discipline and is both exhilarating and exhausting. I’ve always found that if I keep changing beds every night, I hardly sleep at all. My routine on the road was I’d work out for an hour before going on stage, or even enjoy a game of tennis to unwind. I have always been careful to eat all the right foods and get enough rest to counter the stresses of road life.
All the travel and wear and tear was worth the wonderful feeling of singing on stage. It was never about the applause. I just love to sing. I was always realistic that tomorrow night they would be standing, cheering and flicking their lighters for someone else.
Mum would come out on tour with me several times a year and she turned out to be quite outgoing on the road. She was an excellent photographer and when she became good friends with Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, she took several great shots of him.
Mum made great friends across the world. She was like a real-life Auntie Mame! Mum always loved people and nature – two traits I inherited from her. She also taught me to not take things for granted, a lesson that I would rely on time and time again in the future.
After Xanadu was a bit of a flop, I wasn’t offered many more movie roles. But there was one exception. More than anything, film producers were constantly trying to find ways to reunite John Travolta and me in a movie and recapture some of that Grease chemistry. We wanted to do something together, but there just wasn’t a lot of good ‘somethings’ around.
We were finally handed a script by director/writer John Herzfeld called Two of a Kind. Originally, we passed, but then we reconsidered. John and I agreed that what was on paper needed work, but it was kind of cute. In the end, we said yes just to work together again.
The plot revolved around God having just about enough of human attitude, so he plans to destroy the planet. A trio of bleeding-heart angels ask for a deal: if they can find two truly good souls, Earth will survive. Unfortunately, the angels stake the future of the species on a thieving bank teller, Debbie (me), and Zack, an inventor/con artist.
I loved reuniting with John, but I also enjoyed that in this role I would be able to show a range of emotions including rage, anger, hysteria and tears. Prior to filming, I worked with an incredible acting coach named Warren Robertson in New York.
There was a scene in the film where I had to do a major breakdown. I could hear in my head how I wanted to do it, but somewhere between my brain and my lips were inhibitions and I knew that I had to get through those.
Warren helped unlock the door between my head and my mouth. That’s the only way to describe it. I always remember Warren telling me, ‘No one knows what you’re thinking to get to the emotional place you need to go. It’s not written on your forehead.’
On set, I was still having a little trouble getting into the scene when John Travolta appeared. Right before my close-up, he came up and said something out of character and sort of mean to me. It really shook me. When I did the actual scene, I was able to cry and be hysterical. When the director yelled cut, John smiled. He’d done it on purpose. He just wanted to help me get to that place of emotion. Again, John helped me with my acting like he did in Grease.
He had just finished filming Staying Alive, the sequel to Saturday Night Fever, and was in incredible physical shape. He had his own personal trainer, Dan Isaacson, so I started working out with John and Dan. Every day before rehearsals, we did a dance class and hit the free weights in the gym. The three of us had so much fun together and got on really well. We’ve remained friends for life.
The film premiered that December and proved to be a box office disappointment, but luckily the soundtrack had some great music in it, including the song ‘Twist of Fate’ written by Peter Beckett and Steve Kipner and produced by David Foster.
I guess Grease was a hard act to follow.
Soon after, I would branch out with another former partner. My dear friend and ex singing partner Pat Farrar, who had been married to John for quite a while by then, wanted a new challenge. I had just returned from Australia and said, ‘Oh, Pat, what I wouldn’t give for a milkshake and an Aussie meat pie! Don’t you miss ’em?’
This wasn’t the first time I’d felt like this. When I was on the road with my Aussie manager Roger Davies and his then-wife Nanette, we wo
uld talk about home a lot and the things we missed, particularly the special chocolates, biscuits and other treats from our childhoods.
One day I began thinking it might be fun to open a little place where all the Australians could hang out. The English had Tudor House in Santa Monica, but there really wasn’t an Aussie place. On my birthday that year, I had a little party and Pat and John were there. That was the first time I told her about the idea. She shared that she had been thinking about opening a boutique where she would sell clothes. Both wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, we decided to combine those dreams. It felt good to be a duo again.
Then Pat and I were on our way to Australia together to do our favourite thing – shop! We brought several empty suitcases because this was a business trip. We had decided to open a store called Koala Blue. Part of it would be a real Australian milk bar, with newspapers and fast food, milkshakes and lollies, and in the rest of the store, we’d sell all manner of things Australian. My sudden homesickness would be cured!
It was true that we knew nothing about the retail business, but once again Pat and I decided to conquer the world with hard work, a sense of humour and our Aussie can-do spirit. What else did we need? We arrived in Sydney and walked through The Rocks, where we found Ken Done’s store. We were really taken with his cartoon-like koalas. Quite innocently, we went inside and asked him to design a logo for us. He created it in scarlet, sunshine yellow, emerald green, royal blue and hot pink.
We found a great location on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, which was a funky, upcoming area where we could afford the rent. We even managed to get a licence to serve Aussie beer and wine right away. That was unheard of and I don’t know why the city let us have it, but they did and we were stunned. Pat and I were always a great team.
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