Whatever Happened To Natalie Imbruglia?
Most people know who Natalie Imbruglia is thanks to her hit song "Torn." And while the singer, who hails from Australia, hasn't managed to replicate the success of her first single, that hasn't stopped her from carving out a unique and surprising career. In fact, Imbruglia actually enjoyed the spotlight before "Torn" took off, thanks to her role on the Australian soap Neighbours. And while that kind of dual-genre exposure usually catapults other stars to international superstardom, this double threat somehow found a nice balance.
"Honestly I don't remember life before fame. Sometimes I try to strain my brain to remember what it felt like before," Imbruglia told the Mirror, before adding the following caveat: "I'm not that famous. It's not like I can't go anywhere without security or anything. I think that's better, I don't want to be too famous."
Let's take a look at how Imbruglia's been handling her low key fame since she released her incredibly successful debut single in the late 90s. It's safe to say that there have been some ups and downs along the way.
She had a baby Imbruglia
One of the reasons that Natalie Imbruglia has been out of the spotlight in recent years is because she decided to become a mother. In October 2019, Imbruglia revealed that she'd given birth to a baby boy by sharing the first photo of him on Instagram. The singer wrote alongside a blue heart emoji, "Welcome to the world ... Max Valentine Imbruglia. My heart is bursting." A plethora of celebs congratulated Imbruglia on welcoming her adorable son. According to Hello!, TV presenter Cat Deeley wrote in reference to Imbruglia's bursting heart, "And it will do... forever x." Meanwhile, fellow popstar Kylie Minogue also chimed in with, "Welcome Max and congratulations Nat."
Imbruglia surprised fans with news of her pregnancy in July 2019 when she shared a photo of her baby bump on Instagram. The actress explained, "For those of you that know me, this has been something I have wanted for a very long time and I'm blessed that this is possible with the help of IVF and a sperm donor — I won't be saying anything more on that publicly. I'm so excited about this next adventure."
Natalie Imbruglia became a British citizen
Having lived in the United Kingdom throughout most of her career, Natalie Imbruglia decided to officially become a British citizen. In a 2015 interview with Evening Standard, the star revealed that the road to citizenship wasn't a breeze. Imbruglia explained, "I had to take an exam. Lots of questions about the suffragette movement. But I failed the first time and had to get a tutor." The studying apparently paid off and Imbruglia got the chance to pledge her allegiance to her new country during a special ceremony. Of the important moment she said, "I got really emotional. I choked. I couldn't believe it. I thought, 'I really, really care about this. It's a really big deal."
Despite becoming a British citizen, Imbruglia still holds her home country of Australia close to her heart. During an interview on Lorraine in 2015, Imbruglia revealed, "I have dual citizenship, so I haven't turned my back on Australia, but I go home about three times a year." Of her journey to becoming a British citizen, the singer reiterated her pride over the milestone, as she reflected on the fact that she's lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years.
Natalie Imbruglia refuses to be a one hit wonder
While announcing her pregnancy on Instagram, Natalie Imbruglia also shared some other exciting news with her fans. "I'm very happy to announce that I have just signed a record deal with BMG!!" the singer wrote, adding, "What an AMAZING team. I have been busy writing for the past year and a half and can't wait to share these new songs with you all!!!!" While her debut single "Torn" remains Imbruglia's most recognizable hit to date, Imbruglia has actually released four studio albums, as of this writing, as well as a 2015 album of cover songs called Male, featuring the music of male bands and artists. She also released a greatest hits album called Glorious: The Singles 97–07 in the United Kingdom and Australia in 2007, proving that her fanbase is still alive and well and ready for new music.
In February 2019, Albert Hammond Jr. from The Strokes revealed that he'd be working on some new material with Imbruglia. Sharing a snap on Instagram, Hammond Jr. thanked her and a few other collaborators for the "incredible vibe" and "the ability to write some amazing songs!" With Imbruglia's apparent dedication to keep cranking out new tunes, not to mention a new record deal in place, fans are undoubtedly excited to hear what the singer comes up with next.
A TV show helped Natalie Imbruglia find her roots
In 2018, Imbruglia appeared on an episode of the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are? in which the celeb explored her heritage as a half Italian, half Australian woman. Per the show's network SBS Australia, prior to her participation with the program, "Imbruglia only [knew] the characters from her father's Italian heritage. She [knew] very little about her mother's Australian ancestors." Over the course of the episode, Imbruglia discovered so many secrets about her family, which included both "mystery and violence," as well as uncovered what happened to the "strong women" in her family tree, many of whom were apparently abandoned by the men in their lives.
SBS Australia shared a clip from the episode on Facebook, in which Imbruglia revealed that she'd been bullied for her Italian heritage as a child. While schoolmates had taunted the singer, and told her she should return to her father's home country, Imbruglia learned during the show that her Australian heritage was stronger than she ever realized. Imbruglia found out that her "great, great, great, great, great grandfather" was "on the First Fleet," which, according to National Geographic, consisted of the 11 ships that sailed from Portsmouth, England in 1787, and founded the first colony of settlers in Botany Bay, Australia. The longevity of the Imbruglia family in the country finally proved that the performer was as much Australian as she was Italian, once and for all.
Natalie Imbruglia added theater to her resume
Already an accomplished singer and television actress, Natalie Imbruglia decided to branch out into stage acting in 2014. She starred in a touring production of Alan Ayckbourn's Things We Do for Love, and her performance was met with positive reviews, with The Telegraph calling Imbruglia "genuinely poignant." In an interview with ATG Tickets, Imbruglia revealed her elation to be heading to the stage. "I have to keep pinching myself," she said, adding, "How did I end up here?"
The Johnny English star studied acting in Los Angeles when she was invited to audition for the role of Nikki in Things We Do for Love. She told ATG Tickets (via Surrey Live), "I'm just loving the rehearsals. It's been so fulfilling to learn about acting. There's so much I didn't know about it. But it's brought me great joy." But she also detailed her stage fright, explaining that she was anxious about her live acting debut. "Nerves never go away," Imbruglia revealed, adding, "Part of being a performer is those insecurities. That's true of even the most incredible talented people. I've read that before every job, Meryl Streep is terrified. If you don't feel that, you become arrogant."
Natalie Imbruglia: Aged to perfection?
Much has been written about Natalie Imbruglia's striking looks. In 2015, Imbruglia opened up to the Mirror about how she stays fit, saying, "I'm blessed with good genes, my mother is beautiful. I work out and for the most part eat healthy. Then I get on with life, and eat crisps. I think it's just balance." She also told the publication, "I drink a lot of water. And I don't work too hard." Basically, Imbruglia's approach to life sounds like something we could all learn from.
However, the singer was quick to dispel the idea that her life is picture perfect, as she told the outlet, "I'm not saying I'm perfect, I have insecurities, but I want to enjoy my 40s. And yes, I've got wrinkles, but I'm happy." The '90s performer appears to have a healthy approach to getting older, and it sounds as though she's more comfortable in her own skin now that she's in her 40s. "I love ageing," she told the Mirror, adding, "I just want to feel good, I don't want to be scared. We're all going to get wrinkly and we're all going to die. So, just don't resist it." Sage advice for us all.
Natalie Imbruglia takes 'last minute' trips with Kylie Minogue. NBD, right?
Having worked in the entertainment industry since the '90s, Natalie Imbruglia accrued some seriously famous friends, and fellow Australian singer Kylie Minogue is one of them. In an interview with the Mirror in 2015, Imbruglia opened up about a vacation she'd been on with Minogue, saying, "It was last-minute, we both had some days off, and it was just lovely." And when asked if she ever gets mistaken for Kylie's sister Dannii Minogue, Imbruglia replied, "I do! It happened while we were away." Imbruglia made the vacay sound like the most normal thing she'd done all year as she explained, "We were just two friends having a girlie holiday."
However, the "Big Mistake" singer also tried to make it clear that she doesn't vacation with her famous friends year round. As she told the outlet, "I do have an incredible amount of travel in my life, and I see beautiful things in the world. But I have s**t days. I just don't share them. And it does make it look like your life's really rosy." It's impossible to deny that vacationing with fellow celebs sounds pretty great though.
Natalie Imbruglia got candid about mental health
In an effort to help others who may be struggling with mental health, Natalie Imbruglia lent her voice to Sane Australia. She explained to the outlet, "I have experienced depression, and that's why I think it's important to talk about it — because if I can tell people that I've been through it, maybe they won't feel so silly that they have."
She expanded on the topic in an interview with the Mirror in 2015, revealing that she's also dealt with a number of health conditions over the years. Imbruglia said, "I was anxious, nervous, stressed out and scared. I didn't want to go outside in case people recognized me." She continued, "It nearly sent me insane. I felt I had to live up to 'Torn.' I didn't write it, but I was a part of the reason it was so successful."
As well as feeling overwhelmed by burgeoning career pressures, Imbruglia also shared, "I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), which can be a problem because I'm not good with change." The former TV star revealed that she'd inherited the condition "from [her] mother," and described it as "hard." While Imbruglia may have been out of the spotlight in recent years, but she's continued to advocate on behalf of others by discussing her health issues.
You might be surprised by Natalie Imbruglia's net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Natalie Imbruglia has an estimated $14 million in the bank, which is more than a little impressive. From her music career, to her movie roles, to lucrative endorsements with the likes of L'Oreal and Gap, Imbruglia's career is about much more than one popular single. While the success of "Torn" undoubtedly catapulted the singer in front of a worldwide audience, her career diversification since has helped her to amass such an awesome fortune. As Red UK reported, "Her first album, Left Of The Middle, sold over six million copies." Imbruglia explained to the magazine, "I remember being in the car with my manager and she said, 'You're a millionaire.' She said it over and over. I just busted my sides."
It's also worth noting that Imbruglia has expanded her property portfolio in recent years. The Times reported in 2018 that Imbruglia was "renting a Cotswold pad with her rescue dog, Mr Wilson," and that she also "owns a flat in London's Notting Hill and a villa in Byron Bay, New South Wales."
In fact, Imbruglia has made a conscious decision to take a step back from the crazy celebrity life. Instead, as she told the Mirror in 2015, "I don't work around the clock and I don't apologize for that. I've discovered what I do doesn't define me. I want to be happy and not everyone wants to work that hard." And who can blame her?
Songs by male musicians paved a comeback for Natalie Imbruglia
For her comeback record Male, released in 2015 after a six-year break from releasing new music, Natalie Imbruglia decided to exclusively cover songs originally recorded by male artists. As she told DuJour, "There was instantly a different interpretation when it was coming from a woman; the way you think and feel about the song is different." The pop star chose tracks by iconic male singers and bands including Death Cab for Cutie, The Cure, the late Tom Petty, and Daft Punk. The singer explained to DuJour, "For me, there's nothing more sexy than being a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. In the back of my mind there was something kind of cool about my face on an album with the word Male on it."
Imbruglia further explained to Entertainment Weekly, "The songs on this album are about finding that life partner and that sentiment behind the songs, which I think is beautiful." By covering famous songs, Imbruglia seemed to start a journey back to herself, reconnecting to the musicality she'd seemingly left behind after a few unsuccessful albums. With her new record contract, signed in 2019, hopefully we'll be hearing new songs from Imbruglia very soon.
Natalie Imbruglia's son comes first
Since welcoming her son, Max, in October 2019, Natalie Imbruglia's priorities have understandably changed. Rather than looking for love right now, the singer is apparently content to be single until she finds a partner who is ready to be a parent, just like she is. A source allegedly close to Imbruglia told The Sun, "I think one great thing about being a mom for Natalie is that she has a much better chance of meeting Mr. Right because she is thinking about finding a great dad — not just a guy to hang out with." Basically, she has her hands full with her new baby and doesn't have time to waste on dating apps.
The insider also claimed to the publication, "Men love Natalie and she has never been short of admirers — they go crazy for her and even now she can have her pick of dudes." But while Imbruglia's past relationships always seem to have fizzled, her so-called "pal" believes that having a baby is the right move for the star. The source explained, "She got so tired of the disappointment and just really needed a break from all that. She is a super confident and fulfilled person who can give a child everything."
And judging by her adorable Instagram posts, Imbruglia has adjusted to motherhood just fine.
That time she had a wardrobe malfunction
Natalie Imbruglia often finds herself on the red carpet, which means that she has no shortage of fabulous gowns. But with every outfit comes the possibility of a wardrobe malfunction, of which Imbruglia is only too aware. In an interview with Style by Yellow Button in 2014, the actress explained, "I once wore a dress, I think it was an Armani and it was more sheer than I had realized. Sometimes you don't know how sheer something is until there is a strong flash." It wasn't until she saw the photographs afterwards that she realized her look was a little transparent, and perhaps showed a bit too much flesh. Imbruglia continued, "I mean, I don't have a paparazzi camera at home! But that dress was just a little too sheer."
The Johnny English star also told the website, "My uniform is normally jeans, a blazer and a heel" — meaning that the opportunity for wardrobe malfunctions to take place in her day-to-day life is very low. Hey, it happens to the best of us!
Natalie Imbruglia launched a skincare line
Having previously been the face of L'Oreal, Natalie Imbruglia decided to launch her own skincare line called Iluka. In a 2014 interview with Rescu, Imbruglia said of the new line, "I have always loved the calming and revitalizing powers of water." The site described Iluka as "an anti-ageing range including all-natural Australian ingredients including Manuka Honey, Marine Collagen, Kakadu Plum, and Crushed Pearl," which sounds simply divine. In a YouTube video for Rescu, Imbruglia revealed that she developed the line after suffering from rosacea acne, with the view to create something that would help her skin. Considering the star's usually flawless complexion, whatever she's using on her skin is clearly working.
Imbruglia also explained that it was crucial to her that her skincare line celebrated her homeland of Australia. She said, "We just talked through Australian ingredients, and I work with biochemists and they tell me Australian ingredients that I can use and what they do." Sadly, the Iluka Skincare website is now offline, and its Facebook page hasn't been updated since December 2016. Judging by the brand's glowing reviews, its disappearance from the market is a real shame.
We can only hope that Imbruglia's brand gets a global relaunch sometime soon.