Forget what you think you know about Australian entertainer Natalie Bassingthwaighte.
As you’re about to discover this woman has many dimensions.
She has truly earned her place as an accomplished performer, after seven years of knock-backs, hard slog and auditioning with 6,000 other hopefuls to finally land one of only 22 roles in the Australian version of the Broadway smash hit Rent.
It taught her an invaluable lesson: you can’t just wing it.
Knowledge she now applies to business.
So pleased to bring you the very genuine Nat Bass..
Martine Harte: Natalie Bassingthwaighte you are many things: recording artist, actress, judge on Australia’s X Factor, mum of two, which role do YOU most identify with?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: Is there a bigger thing than being a mum?
I do feel like being a mum is the thing that drives everything these days. I love being hands-on but I also love working, so it’s trying to find that balance.
Can I say mum and entrepreneur? (laughs)
You can!
(our chat briefly pauses as Nat kisses her son Hendrix)
GROWING UP
You grew up in Wollongong New South Wales, were you a little girl with big dreams?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: When I was a kid I always tried different things – whether it be ballroom dancing or gymnastics or Brownies – I would sink my teeth into it and if it wasn’t my thing then I was like,”oh, ok..”
I used to be a big fan of Young Talent Time – as were most kids growing up – I just loved performing for my family. I’d be directing everyone – little bossy boots – now I wonder where my daughter gets that from! (laughs)
Do you think visualisation played a part in your success?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: To me it was more about loving each moment. Trying to enjoy it for what it was, my life has been project based which is why I guess I call myself an entrepreneur.
I don’t identify myself as a singer or an actress. I’m a woman who wants to be challenged and excited and happy on a daily basis, don’t we all? (laughs)
THE EARLY STRUGGLE
Everyone has a stand out moment which nearly derails them in their career, can you share?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: As a young woman wanting to be an entertainer – I knew I liked singing, I knew I liked acting – so I thought musical theatre was my thing. I auditioned for so many things and never really understood why.
Everyone, used to say, “oh you’ve got such a great voice,” but I could never really put it all together and realise what that ‘thing’ was.
Sometimes you feel so self-conscious about who you are and you try and cover it up and be someone else, it’s just a really weird industry to be part of.
The biggest learning curve for me was when my friends came back from overseas and they said, “Oh my god there’s this musical Rent and you’d be perfect for the main role.”
I thought, “this is me.”
It was one of those lightbulb moments. I researched so much about the musical: the writers, directors, the music behind it.
ON BEING REAL
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: The whole audition process was over seven months, I wasn’t afraid of exposing the real me. I didn’t put on a facade as much, I was a bit goofy and silly. But because I could back it up with all the research, it was as if I wasn’t afraid. I was going in there to do my best and if that wasn’t good enough, that wasn’t good enough.
In the last audition, I looked over to the pianist and they said:
“Thank you Natalie, that’s all for today.” It was my seventh audition in seven months and just as I was about to leave I said, “Is that it for me? Are you guys calling me or is this the end?”
They had a big smile and said, “No Nat, we’re calling you and I did get the job.”
But it was more about that growth, you can’t just rock up with a song that you’ve been rehearsing for a few weeks and stand out from the crowd.
What’s gonna get you noticed?
It’s being so comfortable in your own skin, knowing the song inside out, be willing to take direction and be personable.
Is that what you’ve brought to the table in your role as X Factor judge?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: One of the things I tell the contestants is you need to be a good person; I don’t care what anyone says.
Kindness and compassion don’t get a big enough wrap.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: I feel like good energies attract good energies; if you surround yourself with people like that, life’s good.
HER LITTLE PEOPLE
In relation to your little ones, Harper and Hendrix, I’ve read backstage at X Factor is sometimes a creche with Dannii Minogue’s son Ethan any funny stories?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: Oh yes, especially this year, Ethan and Harper have gotten on really well. They just love running around backstage. They are super cute around each other. Harper would pretty much want to spend half the time upstairs with the producers. (laughs)
She’s like, “Mum I’m doing my work.”
Harper and Ethan are a month apart, they went to the same day care as well.
With husband Cameron McGlinchey (former Rogue Traders musician) and daughter Harper.
Martine Harte: Tell us why you support the wonderful The Nappy Collective (a cause which is close to E women’s heart) why did you feel so passionate?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: Generally for me, it has to move me and The Nappy Collective definitely did. I love the fact the idea came from a couple of mum’s asking what can we do with our spare nappies?
I thought, “wow, step back for a minute, take a look at what we women can do together if we put our minds to it.
TRAGEDY
Martine: I know you’ve recently lost your long-time manger Mark Byrne who passed away suddenly from a heart attack.. how are you going?
Natalie Bassingthwaighte: Mark played a huge part in my life everyday and will always play one of the most significant parts in my entire career; we were together fifteen, sixteen years so yeah it’s very difficult I won’t lie.
You have to keep moving forward. There are days when I struggle with it, days when I’m good and it’s full steam ahead, it changes you, pretty much everything I do I learnt from him.
HOOK UP WITH NATALIE:
On Twitter: over here