On this day in 1948, Olivia Newton-John was born

Olivia Newton-John is a singer, songwriter, actress, and breast cancer awareness activist who is most popularly known for her role as Sandy in the 1978 film adaption of Grease.

She was born on 26 September 1948 in Cambridge, England, but was raised in Melbourne, Australia. In the mid-1960s, Olivia moved to England, where she got her start as a singer by performing in clubs and on television. Her United States breakout came with her third album, Let Me Be There, in 1973. The title track on the album won a Grammy Award for Best Country Female Vocal Performance. The following year, her album I Honestly Love You bagged her another Grammy Award – this one for Record of the Year.

In 1978, Olivia achieved international acclaim with her role as Sandy, the virtuous cheerleader in Grease, starring alongside John Travolta. Audiences fell for the fun, catchy music and engaging story-line, and Grease became one of the most successful musicals in movie history.

Her next album, Physical, featured the hit single Let’s Get Physical, which ultimately became Olivia’s most well-known song. The suggestive lyrics of the song broke Olivia out of her clean-cut image and the song was even banned on a few radio stations.

She continued to make albums during the 1980s, but her career quietened down after she decided to switch her focus to starting a family and launching a chain of clothing stores called Koala Blue.

In 1994, Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer. She treated the disease with chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy, and since then has used many of her musical releases to raise awareness for breast cancer. Several of her songs and albums have tackled the issue, which is very close to her heart.

A portion of the proceeds from her 2005 album, Stronger than Before, was donated to cancer research. The album features songs that Olivia hoped would provide courage and hope to cancer patients and their families. It includes a song called Can I Trust Your Arms, which she co-wrote with her daughter Chloe.

Olivia has devoted much of her time to raising awareness and funding for cancer research and has supported various environmental causes and charities. One of her most notable charity events was when she led a walk along the Great Wall of China with other cancer survivors to raise funds to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, in Melbourne.

Two other people born today are tennis star, Serena Williams and YouTube personality, Lilly Singh.