UK: Olivia Newton-John signs copies of her new book "Livwise" in London, adding that she feels lucky to have beaten cancer almost 20 years ago and is saddened by fellow musician Robin Gibb's ill health.

Record ID: 830946

  • Title: UK: Olivia Newton-John signs copies of her new book "Livwise" in London, adding that she feels lucky to have beaten cancer almost 20 years ago and is saddened by fellow musician Robin Gibb's ill health.
  • Date: 20th April 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 19, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS AND SINGER, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, SAYING: "The Bee Gees, well Barry is a good friend of mine, and the brothers I have known, I sang with Andy and I knew Maurice, and Robin I know, and they are incredibly talented, they are icons and their music will always live on. Robin's voice was incredibly different, you would know his voice, like Barry's voice, they were both very different but, you would know them the second you heard them, Robin's voice was really haunting and his 'Massachusetts' was like a sound that you will never hear again, it was just amazing, I remember seeing them on stage one time and he sang that and it was like wow, really haunting, incredibly talented and I am really sad for him and his family for what he is going through."
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAC9QPPCYJ416Q0S23VRY9ARQVC
  • Story Text: Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John proved she's still the one her fans want as hundreds braved the rain in London to meet the "Grease" star and get a signed copy of her new book.
    The Australian actress and singer has brought out a cookery book called "Livwise", a collection of healthy recipes.
    Hundreds of her supporters waited at Waterstones book shop in London's Piccadilly Circus on Thursday (April 19), one man who travelled from Lancaster in the north of England handed her a red rose.
    Speaking moments later, fan Robin Duff told Reuters Television meeting the star more than lived up to his expectations: "More so, she is more beautiful, more lovely than I thought she would be to speak to her in person it was just a an absolute thrill really, it was just over so quick really I wish it would just go on and on I wish I could go back and talk to her again."
    Newton-John beat breast cancer in 1992, and while she does not think that diet can necessarily prevent or cure the disease she is passionate about eating healthily: "Well I don't attribute food to my healing, it is a part of being healthy, I was very fortunate to get through my cancer, diagnosis and subsequently chemotherapy and surgery and everything in 1992, it is almost 20 years this year so I am very lucky and very grateful that I am here and able to talk about, it is important to eat well because what we put into our body that's the building blocks of us." She said.
    Since surviving the disease, Newton-John has been an advocate for health awareness and has become involved with various fundraising efforts. Proceeds from her new book will go towards a cancer and wellness centre named after her in Melbourne: "The inspiration for 'Livwise', which is my first cookbook, my first grown up book, was really as a fundraiser for my cancer and awareness centre which is being built in Melbourne, Australia now and we have been fund raising for about ten years now."
    Some of the recipes for the book came from Newton-John herself, while other were contributed by chefs from the Gaia Retreat and Spa in Byron Bay, Australia, which Newton-John part owns.
    Newton-John shot to fame when she starred alongside John Travolta in the film adaptation of Broadway musical "Grease" in 1978. These days though she says she is still busy, but more relaxed about her career: "I don't really hang out for a particular role now, when I was younger maybe, but now really what I hangout for is to be at home with my husband and having some time off and like to grow a garden and eat the whereas of it, that's what I said is my ambition, I like to grow a garden and be in one place long enough so that I can eat the food that grows."
    The 63-year-old also wished Robin Gibb and his family well. The Bee Gees star, who is battling cancer, remains gravely ill in a coma brought on by pneumonia. Newton-John said: "The Bee Gees well Barry is a good friend of mine and the brothers I have known, I sang with Andy and I knew Maurice and Robin I know and they are incredibly talented they are icons and their music will always live on. Robin's voice was incredibly different you would know his voice, like Barry's voice they were both very different but you would know them the second you heard them, Robin's voice was really haunting and his Massachusetts was like a sound that you will never hear again it was just amazing I remember seeing them on stage one time and he sang that and it was like wow, really haunting, incredibly talented and I am really sad for him and his family for what he is going through."
    In February 2012, Gibb announced he had made a "spectacular" recovery from cancer, but in late March he underwent further surgery, forcing him to cancel all engagements.
    Newton-John's book "Livwise" is available in book stores and online now.
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