Olivia Newton-John's 'defied all of the odds before her death'

‘She defied all the odds!’ Olivia Newton-John’s close friend Jane Seymour says the star ‘wasn’t afraid’ of death before her passing aged 73

  • The actress, 71, reflected on her close friendship with the Australian star
  • Olivia died on Monday surrounded by family at her home in southern California
  • Jane told how Olivia made a ‘huge effort’ to see her and her sisters in February
  • Bond girl Jane, who starred in Live and Let Die, told how her ‘unique’ friend wasn’t afraid to die but simply didn’t want to miss out on life 

Jane Seymour has claimed Olivia Newton-John ‘defied all of the odds’ before she died following a long battle with cancer aged 73 earlier this week.

The actress, 71, reflected on her close friendship with the Australian star as she recalled her final visits with Olivia prior to her death.

Bond girl Jane, who starred in Live and Let Die, told how her ‘unique’ friend wasn’t afraid to die but simply didn’t want to miss out on life.

Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer.  

Close bond: Jane Seymour has claimed Olivia Newton-John ‘defied all of the odds’ before she died following a long battle with cancer aged 73 earlier this week (pictured in 1992)

Jane told how Olivia made a ‘huge effort’ to see her and her sisters in February earlier this year, when she ‘should have stayed in bed’ resting. 

The British-American actress, revealed to Fox News: ‘I remember looking at her and just thinking this could easily be the last time I see her. But I felt that before, several years before when she was incredibly frail and on a lot of pain meds and I just thought, oh my gosh, she, she was barely eating. She looked so frail.

‘We were all surprised. She pulled it all back together again and had a quality of life again. It was amazing. She defied all the odds, really.’

Tragic news: Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer

Jane described Olivia has ‘fiercely adamant’ to do things for herself as long as she could and refused to lose her independence.

The star, who knew Olivia had been in decline for some time, said she had spent the past few days ‘crying her eyes out’ as she thought about their 50-year friendship.

Of their friendship, she said: ‘I realised that she was a unique friend. I have friends, but not like her in my life. ‘I just remember so clearly our conversations and the smile on her face. And then the fact that she wasn’t afraid, I don’t think, to pass. She just didn’t want to miss out on life.’

Long-term pals: The actress, 71, reflected on her close friendship with the Australian star as she recalled her final visits with Olivia prior to her death (pictured in 2019)

Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer.

Jane said the day before the superstar died she had been spending time with mutual friends she shared with the mother of one.

She said: ‘We were talking about her, and how [Olivia] had not been answering our texts. We all knew something was happening.’ 

Jane said Olivia’s legacy was her talent, authenticity and her ‘ability to share, care and make a difference in the world…especially in the world of cancer.’

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Jane said that Olivia could be ‘the full-package.’

‘She showed you could be a good wife, a could be a good mother, you could be an amazing superstar and you could be an icon of philanthropy.’

The news comes after Olivia’s husband John Easterling said the star requested donations to be made to her charity, the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, in her memory instead of flowers.

Announcing the Xanadu star’s death on Facebook on Tuesday, John wrote: ‘Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. 

‘Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.’

Strong lady: Jane said Olivia’s legacy was her talent, authenticity and her ‘ability to share, care and make a difference in the world…especially in the world of cancer’

Olivia’s battle with breast cancer first began in 1992 when she was just 44 years old. 

She was very open about her diagnosis and treatment, which famously included the use of medical marijuana. 

Her cancer returned in 2013 and again in 2017.

Despite the cruel toll the disease was taking her life – including crippling her for a period – Olivia kept performing, including touring the US in 2018

Pictured is the last photo of Olivia with husband John Easterling and posted on her Instagram page only three days ago

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