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When Olivia Newton-John brought Sandy’s first day jitters to life, she was experiencing her own.
Didi Conn, who played Sandy’s friend in the beloved 1978 film Grease, opens up to PEOPLE exclusively about working with Newton-John, who died in 2022 at age 73. Conn, 74, says that on their first day on set, Newton-John, who had found success as a singer but had limited acting experience, was anxious.
“The first scene in the movie was her scene of walking onto the campus of Rydell with Frenchy, and she was nervous,” Conn says. Part of her concern was that she was older than John Travolta, who starred as Danny Zuko, but Conn didn’t think she had to worry. “They did a screen test, and if you ever see that, she's so beautiful, she just looked exactly 'teenager,' ” she says.
How Didi Conn Soothed Olivia Newton-John's on Grease's First Day
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
REVIEW
Review: "Christmas Wish" by Olivia Newton-John (CD, 2007) https://t.co/7kuzNHuHh8 via @itspoprescue #onj #olivianewtonjohn #Christmas #xmasmusic
— POP RESCUE (@itspoprescue) December 10, 2022
GREASE SECRETS & PLUS
STUDIO 10
Olivia Newton-John is heading back to the ballroom!
It has been announced that the 73-year-old actress will be appearing on Dancing with the Stars on Monday night (October 18) when the couples will dance to songs from her iconic 1978 musical film Grease – and she will be reuniting with two of her former co-stars!
“Olivia Newton-John will be making a surprise guest appearance on Monday’s show, in support of the competing couples who will dance to the music from her iconic film role,” a DWTS rep shared with E! News.
If you forgot, Olivia played lead character Sandy in Grease.
Appearing alongside Olivia will be Didi Conn, who played Frenchie in Grease, along with Frankie Avalon, who will be singing his character Teen Angel’s song “Beauty School Dropout” live from the ballroom.
This will be Olivia‘s second time appearing on DWTS. She guest-judged a season 21 episode back in 2015.
The 11 celebrity contestants and their pro dancers will be performing routines inspired by Grease.
Il vient d'être annoncé qu'Olivia Newton-John fera une apparition surprise dans la version américaine de Dancing with the Stars lundi soir (18 octobre) lorsque les couples danseront sur des chansons de son film musical emblématique Grease - et elle retrouvera deux de ses anciennes co-stars!
Aux côtés d’Olivia, Didi Conn,qui a joué Frenchie dans Grease,ainsi que Frankie Avalon qui chantera la chanson de son personnage Teen Angel « Beauty School Dropout » en direct de la salle de bal.
On imagine que son apparition surprise se fera de chez elle ...

Didi Conn has opened up about how Olivia Newton-John is doing! https://t.co/FtyqQIJgMt pic.twitter.com/icaBKH6e1u— HELLO! (@hellomag) 17 janvier 2019