Australian singer, actress, and musical star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has revealed that her toughest battles have not always been on stage, but within her own mind. Over recent years, she has focused on improving her mental health, a commitment that was put to the ultimate test during her participation in the gruelling military-style reality show SAS: AUS V ENG.
The high-stakes series, set in the Moroccan desert, features 14 celebrities from Australia and the UK who are subjected to intense special forces selection tests, including sleep deprivation, psychological profiling, and extreme physical challenges, all under the command of Chief Instructor Billy Billingham.
Speaking exclusively to 7NEWS.com.au, Bassingthwaighte described the experience as "big, hard and brutal." With only three weeks to prepare, she combined physical training with a strong emphasis on mental readiness.
"I didn't know how it would feel having these big men screaming in my face, because, honestly, I thought that would be just as hard as the physical stuff for me," she admitted. "It's very intimidating and can feel really scary. I'm not a fighter."
Bassingthwaighte, who split from her Rogue Traders bandmate and husband of 12 years, drummer Cameron McGlinchey, in late 2022, has two children, Harper and Hendrix. The Australian artist, set to star in the lead role of Waitress the Musical, revealed that these significant life changes have prompted her to work diligently on strengthening her mental health over the past few years.
"My toolbox was full of bits and pieces that I needed to get through any situation on the show," she said. "Of course, I had physical limitations. But I was curious to find out whether I could overcome the mental challenges, by being positive or using the tools I've learnt to be positive in situations that are highly stressful. And what I learned was, yes, that stuff does really work. You really can get through so much more by having those little things that you can implement."
She recalled one of the earliest challenges: being submerged in water and confronting her fear of deep water. Her mental preparation helped her push through. "My mindset is a lot stronger, so I used that to my advantage," she said. "Even though it was incredibly hard, there were certain aspects that, without having done that work on my mental health, I wouldn't have been able to achieve."
This newfound strength also gave her the courage to write her memoir, Love Like This. The former Neighbours star admitted initial hesitation about opening up her life, but after years of self-work, she decided to share her story to show others that it is okay to make mistakes. While scary, she described the process as liberating.
"I didn't want people knowing my deepest darkest secrets and I didn't know if I wanted to deep dive," she said. "But ultimately, I felt like I'm the most comfortable in my own skin. And that's because of so many things, and I wanted to share that story. It's OK to make mistakes, it's OK to be vulnerable and not be perfect. Life dishes up many things that you want to bury or you feel ashamed of or you want to hide, but, ultimately, it's about getting through those moments and getting through to the other side. And I felt like I did that and I'm still doing that. I feel like I'm the best version of myself now."
In the memoir, Bassingthwaighte also reflects on never wanting to marry again after the breakdown of her marriage. However, her partner Pip reminded her that it was not even legal for them to marry until 2017, which changed her perspective. The pair became engaged in October last year.
Bassingthwaighte said her new relationship is a big reason she is the happiest she has ever been. "I feel seen, I feel heard, I feel respect, I feel loved and I feel nurtured," she said. "I feel very lucky."
She noted that her partner Pip and her children were supportive but nervous about her doing SAS. "Pip told my kids: 'Your mum is so powerful. You just wait and see what she's capable of'," Bassingthwaighte recalled.
Support from her fellow Aussie teammates also proved invaluable. She said controversial reality star Jessika Power, who appeared on MAFS in 2019, surprised her the most. "She gets a bad rap but she was quite sweet," Bassingthwaighte said. And her former Neighbours co-star Ryan Moloney was a big support, helping her through many situations.
Despite being tested beyond her limits, the experience reinforced how far she can push herself. "It was big, it was hard, it was brutal," she said. "But we survived and we got out of there alive."
SAS: AUS v ENG premieres at 7:30pm Wednesday on Seven and 7plus.
