Around a million Australians tuned in to watch Seven's Olivia Newton-John biopic on Sunday evening, but the real-life subject wasn't one of them.
In fact, the Grease star says she won't watch the two-part television movie for at least a year.
While the Physical singer has enormous respect for the actors portraying her, she says she has no real desire to see her life translated onto the small screen. At least not yet.
Speaking at Melbourne's La Trobe University shortly before being bestowed with an honorary doctorate, the four-time Grammy winner said she couldn't imagine anyone wanting to watch a dramatised version of their career highs and lows.
"I didn't watch it," she said. "I won't be able to. It's a movie, they weren't there my whole life. They have probably dramatised it … but I will watch it in a year from now. Apparently the young girl who played me did well [and] Delta is wonderful."
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Olivia Newton-John.
Photo: Wayne Taylor
La Trobe University gave Newton-John an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in recognition of her significant and ongoing support of cancer research. The singer-songwriter was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992. Last year, she postponed a North America tour after revealing her breast cancer had returned.
Asked how her health was now, Newton-John said she was feeling "well".
"I'd like to thank everyone who has shown me their love and support," she said. "I am feeling well and doing great."
She added that she felt thrilled to receive an honorary doctorate – if a little embarrassed by all the attention – but would now double-down on her efforts to find a cure.
"It has reinvigorated me to see an end to it [cancer] in my lifetime."
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Broede Carmody is an entertainment reporter at Fairfax Media.
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