A film is only as compelling as the characters inhabiting its plot and world. Grease very successfully boasted two leads with excellent chemistry thanks to John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. But their on-screen relationship actually paralleled some very real tension between Travolta and Newton-John, which she said led to some very real and mutual attraction between the two stars.
Sadly, Newton-John died on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73. She was 28 years old when Grease was made, which almost made her pass on the role. Other contenders included Carrie Fisher and Marie Osmond. But with Newton-John at the helm, Travolta shared a kiss in a deleted scene that was completely unscripted.
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta shared a kiss that wasn’t written in the script but fueled by sexual tension
Watching chemistry so easy and electrifying, viewers had to wonder if the romantic tension between Travolta and Newton-Johnson was real. Both stars have, in the past, confirmed exactly that. Newton-John’s autobiography, Don’t Stop Believin’, revealed, “Yes, we really liked each other and there was an attraction.”
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The feelings were mutual, as confirmed by Travolta himself. Travolta was directly asked if he and Newton-John had real “sexual tension,” to which he answered affirmatively and noted, “I think you saw that in “You’re the One That I Want.” There’s almost resolve of that tension right there.”
It helps that the two started on a very powerful note, through her casting journey.
The two actors started with a meaningful bond
Travolta was key to Newton-John joining the cast; first, execs had other names in mind to play Sandy, and on top of that, Newton-John had misgivings of her own. At the time, she’d just been in some projects that left her embarrassed and she was unwilling to go through that again. But Travolta asserted, “There is only one person that should play this role and it’s Olivia Newton-John… She’s every guy’s dream.”
Then came the day Travolta met with Newton-John to persuade her in person. “I went outside to be greeted by those piercing blue eyes and the warmest smile on the planet,” she recalled. “In person, John Travolta radiates pure joy and love. That day, he greeted me with a big hug like we were already lifelong friends. How could you say no to John Travolta?”
For a time, Grease boasted an ending scene that showed the two stars sharing a final kiss, which was totally unscripted. But even if that didn’t make the final cut, the two then kissed at the film premiere’s after-party. So began rumors that both stars would confirm as true time and again.
