Natalie Imbruglia has revealed that she ran out of money completely after her initial fame from Neighbours faded, leaving her sleeping in a basement in Chelsea and having conversations with God about getting lucky again.
From chart-topping success to financial struggle
In the 1990s, Imbruglia was a worldwide name after starring in the soap opera Neighbours and launching a global music career with her 1997 chart-topping cover of Torn. Her multi-platinum debut album, Left of the Middle, sold millions of copies worldwide and earned her multiple Grammy nominations.
Speaking to host Davina McCall on the Begin Again podcast, the former pop star shared: "I then went to England and that's when I couldn't get a visa to work as an actress and they were really cracking down on the Neighbours stars taking English actors roles and that was a hard time because I ran out of money."
Living on cash envelopes and partying
"So I was, for a few years, very famous from Neighbours and was doing appearances in clubs and signing autographs and just getting wads of cash in envelopes and living like that," she said.
"And that was the first time in my life where everything didn't fall in my lap. So I just partied because I didn't know what to do."
She added: "The money ran out. And it was my dad once [who] rang and said, 'Can I just ask, when are you going to get a job?' And I was so proud. And I screamed at him and kicked off, but I was so embarrassed that he said that to me that I changed things then."
Sleeping in a Chelsea basement
The lack of finances also had a huge impact on Imbruglia's living arrangements. "I was living in a basement at someone's house in Chelsea, which was weird because I had no money and I'm in Chelsea, in this big mansion, but I'm just in the basement," she shared.
"And, a lot of conversations with God about if I ever get lucky again."
Imbruglia was eventually able to get her life back on track and continues to make music.
