Jan 15, 2006 10:10 pm US/Eastern
Newton-John Honored By Aussies In L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
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Olivia Newton-John (File)
AP
Australian entertainer Olivia Newton-John received the Lifetime Achievement award at the annual G'Day LA: Australia Week gala Saturday night in Los Angeles.
"I'm just thrilled," Newton-John, 57, told AP Television News. "Listen: I've lived several lifetimes, I think — and this is another one. And I'm just thrilled to be here and I'm thrilled! I'm going to enjoy every moment. Instead of being nervous, I'm gonna just enjoy every second, because life is short and fleeting, and the good moments aren't always there, so I'm very happy."
Dozens of Newton-John's fellow Australians attended the event, held at the historic Hollywood Palladium. Among them: members of the rock band INXS, complete with new band member JD Fortune; Tony-winning actor Hugh Jackman and his actor-wife Deborra-Lee Furness, and "Munich" star Eric Bana — all fans of the night's honoree.
"Yes, Olivia knows, as I've confessed this a long time ago to having plenty of posters of her in my bedroom as a child," Bana said. "So, yeah, I've embarrassed myself before. I've embarrassed myself before in front of Olivia. So, that's OK."
"I had a crush on her, too," confessed Furness. "I wanted to get physical," she continued, laughing. Added Jackman, "Well, I grew up absolutely in love with Olivia, like every boy or man in Australia, and woman. I mean, she's universally loved there. And she's a singer, she's an actor. She can do everything. She really is a great Australian. And she's done amazing things on a charitable basis."
Presenting Newton-John's award was her "Grease" co-star John Travolta, who attended the gala with actress-wife Kelly Preston. "Well, Olivia has one of the more important careers of our generation," Travolta said. "She put Australia on the map in America for entertainers. And she opened the door for all of the great gifts we've gotten from Australia. So, she deserves it more than anybody."
This marked the third time the gala was held in Hollywood as part of the Australia Week festival — a promotion for Australian tourism.
The "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin limped down the arrivals line — his knee in a bandage following a workout. He said it has taken a while to get used to the trips from Australia to Los Angeles. "But now, it's a stack of fun — really, really good." he explained. "And, this day and age, too, I get to travel with my family a lot, which is good. It's fun. At first, first couple years, I was a little bit intimidated, and all this kind of stuff — woo - but now it's just kind of fun."
Australian star Heath Ledger was conspicuously absent, even though he is expected in town for Monday's Golden Globe Awards, where he and his film "Brokeback Mountain" are considered front-runners. But the red carpet was nonetheless abuzz about how paparazzi sprayed Ledger and wife Michelle Willians with water pistols at the "Brokeback'"s Sydney premiere.
It was suggested that another of the night's attendees was responsible. "It was actually Eric Bana," Jackman joked.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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