Former Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte reveals Jagged Little Pill musical role

Former Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has jetted to New York for an exciting new role in a massive musical.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte has a new-found respect for school teachers after homeschooling her own children during the pandemic.

The former Neighbours star and her husband Cameron McGlinchey have taken on teaching duties for their daughter Harper, eleven, and son Hendrix, eight, at their Byron Bay home which Bassingthwaighte admits is not easy.

“I always wanted to be a schoolteacher but now I’m glad that didn’t eventuate,” she told Confidential from Manhattan.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte has been cast in Jagged Little Pill musical. Supplied

“When I was a kid, I did work experience as a primary school teacher. I’m very glad my life turned out in another way because they are just extraordinary. What our teachers do for our children just blows my mind.

“There’s a whole new level of appreciation … even though there are days when you want to pull your hair out you have to remind yourself that there’s so many people that are worse off.”

After a devastating year for the arts sector and after spending months at home in Byron, things are finally looking up and Bassingthwaighte, 46, jetted to New York last week to begin rehearsals for an exciting new gig.

The actor has been cast in the Australian tour of Alanis Morissette’s hit musical Jagged Little Pill, in the lead role of Mary Jane Healy.

Natalie Bassingthwaghte with her husband Cameron McGlinchey and daughter Harper, eleven, and son Hendrix, eight. Picture: Instagram

“How amazing is it to have roles like this. This role is a 40-plus woman who is complex and there’s so much to her that I’m just … I admire her. The world is going that way where there are more opportunities and I don’t take that for granted,” she said.

“This is a story that people need in their lives, to feel that hope but also to feel understood.

It’s really unique.”

The production will play at Theatre Royal Sydney in December, where Bassingthwaighte got her start in Rent more than 20 years ago.

“I started in 1998 at the Theatre Royal. It just blows my mind. To come full circle and perform at the theatre that I started out at is pretty mind-blowing and special,” she said.

After being stuck in lockdown, the former singer will get a taste of normalcy as she hits the red carpet at Monday’s 74th Annual Tony Awards, where the US production of Jagged Little Pill has scored 15 nods.

Bassingthwaighte previously starred in the musical Chicago. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“My head is spinning, I’ve got my ticket and my Toni Maticevski gown. It’s really surreal, particularly when you’ve had such a long time at home and you don’t know really what’s happening in the creative arts industry. It’s given me so much hope being here,” she said.

“I cannot believe that the performing arts in Australia is about to open up. That means a lot to me, I’ve got so many friends in the theatre that have been at a standstill and it’s been really tough so to watch that come to life is amazing.”

Bassingthwaighte said a future reunion of her old band Rogue Traders could also be on the cards one day.

“Never say never,” she said.

“We were supposed to do the Airlie Beach Festival [before Covid] then obviously that got cancelled like everything else.

“I love the guys, we love performing our music. We have the best time and audiences just rock out so if the right opportunity came and we were all available then look out!”