When Jane Seymour learned of Olivia Newton-Death, John’s, she was «devastated,» and she knew she had been «in decline for some time,» but she took consolation in recalling her best friend’s «amazing» personality.
Seymour told Fox News Digital exclusively that their feelings have ebbed and flowed like the tides in Malibu, where they’ve seen numerous sunsets together while raising their children and pursuing careers in front of the camera. She’d spent the previous four days «sobbing my eyes out» as «all the memories came pouring back» from their friendship’s last 50 years.
«I recognized she was a one-of-a-kind pal.» «I have pals, but none like her,» Seymour stated. «I recall our chats and the joy on her face so well.» Then there was the fact that she wasn’t frightened to pass. She didn’t want to miss out on anything in life. »
The Grammy Award-winning Australian singer, who appeared in the American classic «Grease,» died on Monday at the age of 73 after a nearly 30-year battle with cancer.
For almost 50 years, Jane Seymour and Olivia Newton-John were great friends. Photographed in 2019. (According to Frazer Harrison)
«It was both remarkable and heartbreaking since she was always the one I called when things changed in my life and vice versa.» We could have some very profound and great discussions. »
When Seymour traveled to the United States to pursue an acting career, her father, a doctor who delivered Olivia’s sister Rona’s baby, first exposed her to the Newton-John’s. When she moved out and started living with Rona temporarily while Olivia travelled the globe singing, she quipped that her father had «no clue who Olivia Newton-John was.»
«She was extremely, really busy and always kind,» Seymour recalled. «But I remember one day when I had my first kid, Katie, which would’ve been nearly 41 years ago.» «At the time, she was living in Malibu and invited us to come out and visit.» I handed her my daughter, and she simply took Katie in her arms and said, «How do you do it all?» «How do you do it?»
When Seymour’s daughter was born in 1982, she had already achieved fame as Bond girl Solitaire in «Live and Let Die,» appeared in the Tony Award-winning Broadway version of «Amadeus,» and received a Golden Globe Award for her part in «East of Eden.»
«I don’t really know Libby, but you know, I’m doing it,» she told her pal. And I’m overjoyed. This is the best moment of my life, and I’m completely smitten with this tiny thing. »
Soon after, Newton-John gave birth to her daughter, Chloe, who «became extremely close friends» with Seymour’s son Sean. Sean and Chloe eventually worked together as adults on one of Chloe’s music videos, which Seymour remembers being «very lovely» for Jane and Olivia to see their children «working together as professionals» after all these years.
Olivia Newton-John and Jane Seymour had «great discussions» and «fell in love.» Observed in 2004. Victor Spinelli (Victor Spinelli)
Olivia Newton-John and Jane Seymour outside a movie theater in 1970. (Art Zelin)
Olivia Newton-Closest John’s friend, remembers her for her «extraordinary» energy. Observed in 1992 (Ron Galella, Ltd.)
«We trusted one another totally, and we were extremely similar individuals,» she said. «We both loved to work hard, but we also realized that family came first. » We had a lot of interest.»
They had «extensive chats about life and death,» since both had lost their moms, and Newton-sister John’s Rona died in 2013 from an aggressive brain tumor. Rona was married for five years to Olivia’s «Grease» co-star Jeff Conaway until they separated in 1985. Conaway passed away in 2011.
While Olivia had a «special link» with the «Xanadu» actor, her friendship with Newton-John was similar to many of Olivia’s relationships, just because of her kind-hearted personality.
«When I had friends who were or are battling with cancer, she would go out of her way to locate the correct physicians for them, to find treatment for them, to find some type of alternative medicine to help them,» she said.
Seymour got a couple chances to see the «I Honestly Love You» singer before she died. There had been some uncertainty about days and locations, but Newton-John had help getting dressed on one visit in February, and although «she really should have simply remained in bed,» she made a «great effort» to see Seymour and her sisters.
For decades, Olivia Newton-John and Jane Seymour collaborated in the entertainment sector. Photographed in 2005 (M. Caulfield)
Olivia Newton-John was joined by Chloe Lattanzi and John Easterling at her annual benefit for cancer research and wellness center in Melbourne, Australia. (Adapted from Sam Tabone)
She said she remembered staring at her and thinking that this may be the last time she saw her. But I had that feeling before a few years ago, when she was really weak and on a lot of pain medicine, and I just thought, oh my my, she was hardly eating. She seemed fragile.
«We were all taken aback. She put it all back together and resumed her normal life. It was incredible. She really defied all the odds. »
Olivia didn’t «want to hide away and simply say, ‘I’m done,'» Seymour said, so they spoke through phone or video conversations. «She strived to be quite self-sufficient. She still wanted to show that she could walk and do things… she was adamant about doing as much as she could. »
Seymour recalled Newton’s daughter John’s and husband «never leaving» her side as she approached the end of her life. «It was amazing, and I know how much Chloe’s presence meant to Olivia,» she remarked.
And as more than just an international icon, an «extraordinary performer and great singer» with four Grammy Awards, 67 singles, and 100 million records sold worldwide, making her one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Seymour said her best friend would want to be remembered for the work she did helping the community living and dealing with cancer.