Natalie Imbruglia was once broke and living in the basement of a London mansion before building a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio.
The former Neighbours actress opened up about surviving on cash from nightclub appearances after strict British visa rules barred her from acting.
Speaking on the Begin Again podcast, the 51-year-old star said British authorities were cracking down on Australian soap stars taking UK acting roles.
“I ran out of money, and I was living in the basement of someone’s house in Chelsea,” she said.
“It was weird because I’m in this big mansion, but I’m just in the basement.”
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Natalie Imbruglia has opened up about her money struggles after Neighbours. Picture: YouTube
An eye-opening wake-up call from her father sparked the entertainer to channel her living situation into music, writing her 1997 debut album Left of the Middle from the basement.
Imbruglia’s breakout hit single Torn sold over four million copies worldwide.
Today, the London-based star is estimated to be worth up to $24m ($US16m) with an impressive property portfolio, including a $1.3m hinterland retreat bought at Coorabell near Byron Bay in 2016.
The actress and singer said the experience grounded her relationship with housing.
“I’ve got a roof over my head, I remember thinking some people don’t,” she said.
The hitmaker’s financial independence began as a young girl when she sensed her family’s money stress and vowed never to cost her parents a cent.
“I remember sadly divorcing them in my head,” she said.
“I went up to my bed and I was like, ‘I am not a financial burden … I don’t need you’.”
Rachel Blakely, Sue Jones, Natalie Imbruglia, Terry Donovan & Scott Michaelson from TV show Neighbours.
While she maintains a loving relationship with her parents today, Imbruglia acknowledged how frightening her abrupt independence must have been for them at the time.
The Johnny English star now lives in Oxfordshire with her son Max, noting her mindset around wealth shifted after becoming a mother later in life.
“My work brings me so much joy, being a parent brings me so much joy,” she said.
“I’ve got a bit of a list … that’s mainly about my son, making sure that he’s got everything that he needs as well.
“The ambition, the stadiums are all about him really, not so much about me anymore.”
Imbruglia added that she had stopped guarding herself after years of staying silent.
“I spent so much of my life being guarded,” she said.
“It’s exhausting. Just rip the band-aid off and it’s okay for people to get to know who you are.”
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