News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 18:23
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Olivia Newton-John "didn't jump at the offer" to do 'Grease'

    The star- who passed away on Monday (08.05.22) after years of fighting breast cancer - is best remembered for her role as Sandy in the 1978 movie musical opposite John Travolta as Danny but now casting director Joel Thurm has revealed that it was her co-star who championed her to take on the role


    Joel said: "It was an incredible movie experience for everybody.

    [Casting Olivia] as Sandy was very simple. John was already pre-set, and John asked me, 'What do you think of Olivia?' I said, 'She's wonderful.' He said, 'What do you think of her for Sandy? That's a great idea.' And once John said that and that's who John wanted, I stopped anything else. What if she had said now?"

    The casting director went on to explain that Oliva - who at the time of production was known as a pop singer in her native Australia - eventually bargained that she would only take the role if she was allowed to see a screen test of herself and John.

    He told PEOPLE: "If she said no, I'd be playing the part in a poodle skirt. So everybody wanted Olivia here, but Olivia didn't jump at the offer. That's the important thing to know. She said, 'Okay, I want to see a screen test with John and myself, and then I'll let you know if I want to do it. I think I've never heard of a case where an actor being offered a role said, 'I want to see me before I say yes.' But that's how smart she was."

    'Grease' - which was based on the 1971 stage musical of the same name and tells the story of two- star-crossed lovers at a 1950s high school

    - was a box office smash and held the record for the highest-grossing movie musical of all time until it was surpassed by 'Les Miserables' in 2012, with both of its leads going on to enjoy worldwide careers in music and movies.

    Following her death, 'Saturday Night Fever' star John paid tribute to the 'Xanadu' actress and remembered her as having had an "incredible"

    impact on the world.

    He wrote: "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better.

    Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!

    Your Danny, your John!."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Tracee Ellis Ross has paid a glowing birthday tribute to Diana Ross
     29 Mar: YouTube star Ninja has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32
     29 Mar: Pierce Brosnan has given his seal of approval to Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next James Bond
     29 Mar: Katie Price has warned young women to avoid filler and Botox and urged them to think twice about cosmetic surgery
     29 Mar: Anne Hathaway created a "protective layer" between herself and her 'Mother's Instinct' character
     29 Mar: Tom Sandoval feels his cheating scandal "was supposed to happen"
     29 Mar: Christine Quinn's husband Christian Dumontet has requested a restraining order to keep her away from him
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A coaching conundrum for Crusaders assistant James Marshall as they look to end their losing run in Super Rugby tonight against the Chiefs in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A 30-year-old has been charged with murder after a body was found in a burnt-out car earlier this week 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Tracee Ellis Ross has paid a glowing birthday tribute to Diana Ross 17:53

    Rugby League:
    NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos renew rivalry with Cowboys 17:37

    Cricket:
    Cricket's best female all-rounder has led England to a 4-1 T20 series win over New Zealand 17:27

    Entertainment:
    YouTube star Ninja has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32 17:23

    Rugby League:
    The South Sydney rugby league team is ready to lift itself off the canvas and floor the Canterbury Bulldogs in their Good Friday NRL contest 17:17

    Golf:
    Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko heads into the second round of the latest LPGA tournament in Arizona right on the cusp of the cut 17:07

    Rugby League:
    South Sydney rugby league coach Jason Demetriou has urged fans not to worry about his mental health 16:57

    Entertainment:
    Pierce Brosnan has given his seal of approval to Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next James Bond 16:53

    International:
    World Court orders Israel to 'take all necessary and effective' action to ensure Gaza has access to humanitarian aid 16:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd