Exclusive: Natalie Bassingthwaighte reveals new romance

Speaking publicly for the first time about her separation from her husband of 12 years, Natalie Bassingthwaighte has opened up about her new relationship with a woman.

They say the older you are, the wiser you get. Natalie Bassingthwaighte is now adding “stronger” to that adage.

After 25 years in the spotlight, and ahead of her upcoming appearance at a tribute concert to George Michael, the 48-year-old singer and actor admits she has grown as a performer, learnt to embrace her body and become more confident in her choices.

In an emotional and revelatory interview with the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About, Bassingthwaighte also talks at length about the graciousness and respect that drove her amicable split from husband Cameron McGlinchey, as she speaks for the first time about a new romance that “makes my heart smile and makes me really happy”.

On her upcoming performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in George Michael: Freedom! – a tribute concert that will see Bassingthwaighte and fellow Australian singers such as David Campbell, Emma Donovan and Adam Thompson performing some of the late British singer-songwriter’s biggest hits – and her memories of Michael’s music and career up until his death from heart failure in 2016:

Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who starred in the musical Jagged Little Pill. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“He’s been such an inspiration to me; I didn’t realise how much until after watching the recent Wham! documentary. His music offered such amazing storytelling; he always wanted

to speak about social issues, and he never thought ‘pop’ was a dirty word, which I love. Because why is that? Music should be celebrated in all shapes and forms. Why not have fun when you’re performing?

Listen to the full interview with Natalie Bassingthwaighte on Something To Talk About below or wherever you get your podcasts:

“When you’re an artist and people don’t take you seriously, it’s hard to know where you fit. I’ve experienced all that and then some in my own career, being a musical theatre girl. Back in those days, we weren’t even allowed to audition for film and television. Then I did TV, and I was a singer, and people were like ‘Oh, so now you’re trying to be a singer?’ I was like, wow. So I definitely resonated with [what Michael went through].”

“I’m at a place where I feel confident with where I’m at and who I am,” says Bassingthwaighte. Picture: Christopher Ferguson for Stellar

On whether she still gets butterflies before going onstage 25 years into her performing career:

“It’s interesting and weird. The joy of getting older [is that] there’s less pressure. I’m at a place where I feel confident with where I’m at and who I am. There was a chunk of time when I wasn’t; I was terrified and overwhelmed.

“I wasn’t breathing properly, and I did a number of performances – some on live TV, some in front of thousands of people – where I thought, if this is how I’m going to approach this, I can’t do this for very long.

“I just lost belief in everything I could do. It took a bit of time to build that back up and acknowledge that actually, girlfriend, you’re all right. A switch was flipped. I get butterflies, but it’s more excitement. To be honest, the bigger the crowd, I love it.”

On whether she thinks the way women in the public eye are spoken about and treated has changed since she started her career in the late ’90s:

“It’s way better. There was a very jocular way of being in those days. Men were in power. I do think there’s a shift.

“It’s exciting, but I want it to be more. Everyone should feel safe in any work environment. There’s always a way to go; there’s always more to learn and teach.”

On ageing, and whether she feels any pressure as a 48-year-old woman to uphold a certain beauty standard:

“Being 48, I do feel very empowered. My body is definitely different. I work out a lot, I feel strong and fit. Do I judge myself? Yeah, all the time. But for the most part, I like myself.

“Which is new for me, because I remember a time – it might have been one of my first Logies – [when] I got this vintage dress, I put it on and it was beautiful. Anyway, I thought all the things we all tell ourselves at stupid times.

“About five years later, I went to put it on and it didn’t do up. And I’m like, ‘But I feel good now. I’m bigger, but who cares?’

“Being 48, I do feel very empowered. My body is definitely different. I work out a lot, I feel strong and fit. Do I judge myself? Yeah, all the time,” says Bassingthwaighte. Picture: Christopher Ferguson for Stellar.

“As far as any of the things that women hate about themselves, I’m like, ‘Do what makes you feel happy. I’m not in your body.’ I will do all of it – give me whatever you’ve got. I want to be able to move my face because I’m an actor, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t had botox.

“I definitely will, and I definitely have. But I want to see those smile lines. I want to connect with people on a level that is compassionate. I think when we start to do the internal work, it will shine out.

“That’s when your skin will glow more. You can get all those treatments done – which, again, I’ve done most of them – but I’ve worked just as hard on my mental and internal health and spirituality to kind of get me through. So I’m happy with all of it.”

On how she and Cameron McGlinchey – whom she married in 2011 and with whom she shares daughter Harper, 13, and son Hendrix, 10 – are navigating their recent separation:

“I’m pretty good. As you can probably tell, I’m in a great space. And Cam is in a great place. Collectively, we’re probably better than we’ve been in a long time. Communication is really great; that’s always something you strive for in these situations.”

Natalie Bassingthwaighte with her family.

On how she handled the public interest in their split, which she cryptically alluded to on a social media post amid media speculation three months ago, but has not directly addressed until now:

“It has been really challenging. When there’s interest, it’s very overwhelming. [I got a] phone call; I’d been waiting for it to happen, but [was] trying to protect our inner sanctum for so long, trying to navigate grief and really sit in it and feel it all.

“It hurts, trying to navigate what the next bits look like, especially as a couple who have two children, who work together [McGlinchey is the drummer for electro pop-rock band Rogue Traders, for which Bassingthwaighte is the lead singer].

“It’s a whole other ball game. So having public interest, I won’t lie, was terrifying from the get-go. Since it first happened, I was waiting for someone to say something. And it just felt like I wasn’t ready.

“The hardest part was getting a phone call to say, the media know… they want a comment. You know, everything went to my throat. My chest got really tight – a little bit like it is now – and I felt very overwhelmed. Whoa.”

“I think there’s a perception that if your marriage is over, or something is over, it’s a failure. I don’t believe that at all. We had a very successful marriage,” Bassingthwaighte says. Picture: Christopher Ferguson for Stellar

On coming to terms with the marriage ending, and what she was grappling with as she considered what she would say in response to reports of their split:

“I think there’s a perception that if your marriage is over, or something is over, it’s a failure. I don’t believe that at all. We had a very successful marriage. It was very beautiful. We’ve done amazing things together, achieved a lot and have two incredible children.

“We admire and respect each other, and there’s love there. It’s just different. One of the most beautiful things that happened out of the media speaking about us separating was that it brought to our attention that, you know, this is something I feel comfortable talking about now, whereas before I probably wasn’t.

“I wanted to be able to do it in my time and speak my truth when I was ready... Look, I get journalism. And I’ve been supported so much over the years. But I felt, this particular time, backed into a corner a bit.

“You know, ‘Give me a quote or we’re going to print the story. We know that you’re in a new relationship with a woman; we know who it is. We won’t talk about that, but will you give us a quote?’ I wasn’t outed, but the threat was there.

“My daughter knows everything. Cam knows everything. Our families and our best friends know everything. My son hadn’t known yet, and it was very personal.

“So I spend the next 24 to 48 hours hysterically crying, thinking, what are my choices? So I decided to write my own thing… I didn’t out myself because I thought, that’s really private, as well.”

What Bassingthwaighte is now ready to reveal for the first time about her current romantic status, and how she and McGlinchey have handled it:

“I’m in a beautiful relationship with a woman who makes my heart smile and makes me really happy. [When media interest intensified about her split from McGlinchey] I rang Cam and I was hysterical.

“And he said, ‘It’s OK. This is your truth and you now have to sit in it and stand in it and own it.’ So to have that support from him has been nothing short of beautiful, and I’m very grateful for it.

“Now I can speak from my own mouth, on my own truth, and that feels rewarding. I’m OK. Everything is OK, and everyone is OK. We’re in a good space. It feels liberating. But before? It’s terrifying and it’s debilitating because you’re waiting for someone to snap a picture of you and make it salacious.

“To live like that is… oh, it’s not fun. And I’ve been doing that for a little while now. So it’s nice to say it.”

“I’m just excited to be in my truth and, whatever that looks like, allowing it to unfold. Picture: Christopher Ferguson for Stellar

On whether she’s ever second-guessed her decision to embark on a public-facing career that often invites scrutiny, criticism and interest in her personal life:

“I don’t know if I’d take anything back. I think it’s [about] growing and learning and loving who you are as a person, and trying not to take on negative comments.

“That whole ‘sticks and stones’ is just crap. Negative comments hurt, I won’t lie. They have taken me a long time to get over. I’m a sensitive soul, always have been. But I love that about myself.

“I wish people focused more on supporting one another, in particular women. I grew up with three sisters and I think it’s so important that we build each other up, support each other and stop with negative comments for no reason.

“It doesn’t fill anyone’s soul with anything. I want to get better at it not affecting me. I think I’m better than I was, but it still happens sometimes.

“This whole situation has been scary because it’s trying to navigate who I am as a person in this new space – what are people going to say and think and feel? – and almost wanting to run away from it. But I do feel more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have. I’m celebrating that.”

Read the full interview with Natalie Bassingthwaighte and more in Stellar, inside Sunday’s newspaper.

On what the future holds as she looks to 2024:

“I’m just excited to be in my truth and, whatever that looks like, allowing it to unfold. I’m so grateful – I know that word is thrown around so much – to be where I’m at with the love and support of my family and friends.

“Cam and I are co-parenting beautifully, and I’m proud of us for that. It’s important. We’ve been on family holidays together; at this point, we’re still living in the same house together.

“It’s a little bit crazy considering everything, but we’re doing it. If I can continue to show our kids that life isn’t perfect, it will throw some things at you but, ultimately, if you stand in integrity and with love, respect and kindness for everyone around you – including yourself – then it will radiate.”

• George Michael: Freedom! A Celebration With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is at 7.30pm on December 9 at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For more details, visit ticketek.com.au.

•Read the full interview with Natalie Bassingthwaighte inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA)

Originally published as Exclusive: Natalie Bassingthwaighte reveals new romance