The last few years may have been tumultuous for Natalie Bassingthwaighte but, turning 50 with a new fiancée on her arm, she welcomed the milestone last month with open arms.
“It’s so wild, I thought it would feel harder than it was, but it was just joyous,” the newly engaged star told WHO.
“I feel like I’m in a great headspace, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I was just ready. Life begins at 50!”
A birthday trip to remember
Helping Nat celebrate was her partner of two years, Pip Loth, with the couple jetting off to Canada.
It was there that the actress got down on bended knee at Niagara Falls and popped the question to a surprised Loth.
The fiancées then headed to New York, before returning home to ring in the milestone and celebrate their good news with their nearest and dearest.
“New York ended up being a big part of my birthday and my partner’s birthday, too,” Nat said, adding that they fit in as many Broadway musicals as they could during their eight-day stay.
“Oh, my God, we didn’t stop. We were there for eight days – we saw Death Becomes Her, The Outsiders, Call Me Izzy, with Jean Smart, Maybe Happy Ending. And we saw & Juliet, because our friend Romy [Vuksan] was performing on Broadway, which was just so exciting.”
Keeping the party going
Landing on home soil on a Thursday, the former Neighbours star then hit the ground running with a long weekend full of activities.
This included massages at a bath house and a slumber party complete with trying on wigs, singing and dancing.
It all culminated with a Mexican-themed gathering filled with margaritas aplenty.
“It was lovely,” she reflected. “My partner made a cake. It was pretty awesome.”
Thriving professionally and personally
While it’s evident that Nat is on top of the world when it comes to her personal life, things couldn’t be better in terms of her career, either.
An avid traveller, she scored the role of a lifetime as a host of Foxtel’s Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays – something she’s still pinching herself she gets to call “work”.
“I was really lucky,” she reflected. “It was a dream come true. It’s so much fun. But it’s not all laying around sipping cocktails.”
Although this season, she sticks a little closer to home, travelling around NSW and Victoria with co-star Hannah Hollis, Natalie loved the opportunity to discover parts of the regions she hadn’t been to before.
“I think showcasing places in your backyard is just as important,” she said, “Being able to see what we can do in our own backyard is just as special and memorable.”
Back on stage
Another thing keeping the Rogue Traders frontwoman busy is her one-woman stage show, Shirley Valentine.
Having already toured in Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, she’s getting set to tread the boards in Sydney and Brisbane in the coming weeks.
It’s a huge commitment, but with rave reviews for her performance as the Liverpudlian, it’s one that’s paying off.
“It’s about this woman who gets to a certain age in her life – she’s 42, which was considered quite old in the ’80s. Hilarious! She’s wondering where her life went and who she is,” the mum-of-two explained.
“I found there were a lot of similarities in my life. It’s beautiful, it’s heartwarming, it’s life-affirming, it’s joyful. You will cry, you’ll laugh.”
Her most ‘challenging’ project yet
As if she’s not busy enough, she’s “almost done” writing her memoir, which she calls the “wildest ride I’ve ever had”.
“It’s been emotional, therapeutic, cathartic,” she reflected. “I’m nervous about releasing it, but also very excited. It feels like a release.
“When you’re looking at your past and processing things, it’s challenging, but I’m nearly there. We’re going to be announcing the date soon, so watch this space.”
Where to catch Nat in action
Natalie will be performing in Shirley Valentine at Theatre Royal Sydney from Oct. 22–26 and Brisbane’s Twelfth Night Theatre from Oct. 29 – Nov. 9.
Tickets are available at shirleyvalentine.com.au
Her Victoria episode of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays will air on Thurs. Oct. 30 at 8.30 pm on Foxtel.
Stream Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays on Foxtel Now from $35/mth, with a 10-day free trial.
