INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE BASSINGTHWAITE – RECRUIT NUMBER 13 (AUSTRALIAN)

Age: 50

From: New South Wales, Australia 

Occupation: Actor

IG - @natbassingthwaighte

Natalie Bassingthwaighte, or Nat Bass, is an award-nominated Australian performer, singer, actress, theatre star, presenter, and author whose career spans music, television, film, and stage. She rose to fame as lead singer of Rogue Traders, delivering multi-platinum hits like Voodoo Child and Watching You, and later launched a solo career with her number-one ARIA album 1000 Stars. On TV, she gained acclaim as Izzy Hoyland on Neighbours, hosted So You Think You Can Dance Australia, and served as a judge on The X Factor Australia and New Zealand, while appearing on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and The Amazing Race Australia. She has also starred in theatre productions including Footloose, Chess, and Jagged Little Pill, appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, and co-authored Sistahood. Now, Natalie continues to inspire as she embraces new challenges with resilience, creativity, and authenticity.

Why did you sign up to take part in Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins?

I wanted to see what I was capable of, to be honest. I felt like I was given the opportunity a couple of years ago, and at the time I was terrified of the thought of the show. I’d watched it and thought, oh my God, no. The fighting, everything about it — I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the DS yelling. And at that point in my life, I didn’t think it would be beneficial for my mental health. I was working through a few things personally and just didn’t feel ready.

This time around, though, I think I felt braver. Not that I thought I could do anything, but I felt like I’d done a lot of work on myself over the last couple of years, mentally and emotionally. Physically, I’ve had limitations for a long time — arthritic feet, I’m 50 — so that part hadn’t really changed. That wasn’t what made me want to do it more or less.

It was more that I thought, wow, I’ve done so much emotional work — I wonder if that would be enough to get me through something like this. I also had this idea in my head of “50 things before 50,” and it doesn’t get much harder than Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins. So I thought, alright, let’s give it a crack.

Really, I wanted to see whether the emotional tools I’d learned would actually work. A couple of years ago, the masculine energy was the thing that scared me the most. Obviously the physicality too, but I thought the environment would send me into a spin. This time, I felt like I’d done enough work to handle it.

For example, when I did I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in Australia, my nervous system was wrecked — and I remember doing things like jumping out of a plane and just being hysterical. This time, I wanted to see if I could approach challenges with a new mindset: knowing how to calm my nervous system, how to regulate myself.

So it felt exciting to give it a go under very different circumstances.

What did you hope to get out of the experience?

I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of my strength and resilience utilising tools I have gathered over the years to help me to navigate hard situations. As well as to show my kids that strength isn’t just physical. 

Did you do any preparation for the course?  

I did as much as I could. I worked with a trainer who takes a very holistic approach — mental as well as physical. I did what I could: walking in boots on sand, endurance work, strength work. Cardio is obviously important, and I didn’t have enough time for that, but I did my best.

Did you bond with the other recruits? Who did you get on best with? 

Yes, we formed a tight-knit group. When you go into something like this it’s hard not too. Of course being in there with people I already knew or had worked with before like Axel and Ryan was such a privilege and I was grateful for that. But meeting Jess was great, shes so funny and kind and a great sense of spirit and reminded me not to judge a book by its cover. Gabby and Dani were also super sweet. Their honestly wasn’t anyone in there I  didn’t like.

You went in hoping to work on your mental strength. How did you find facing your emotions with the DS?

I was really nervous about it — even before going into the show. I kept wondering what they were going to say, whether I’d be triggered by them and that masculine energy. But I didn’t feel that in the mirror room, which was a relief.

I felt like I held myself well, but it was still overwhelming. You don’t know what’s going to come out. You don’t know what they’ll ask, how you’ll respond, or how you’ll come across. But with these shows, you never really know — you just have to go in and be as open as you can.

What was the most difficult challenge?

There were a few. The aeroplane one was terrifying because I don’t like water. I can swim, but I’m not confident. Jack, who I was paired with, was incredible and really calmed me down. I kept reminding myself: remember the tools — box breathing, grounding — and between that and Jack’s support, I didn’t get overwhelmed.

When I did I’m A Celebrity, I was hysterical during challenges. This time was different. But the hardest thing by far was the fighting. Hands down. That was one of the reasons I said no years ago. I tried to convince myself it wouldn’t be as full-on as it was — that people might be gentler — but that wasn’t the case at all.

I’d never been hit before. I’d never hit anyone before. Now I can add it to my “50 before 50,” and I’ll never do it again. I’m a lover, not a fighter. It was brutal. And it was so hot — I felt disorientated, like I was outside my body. Everything layered on top of everything else.

Did you learn anything from the DS?  

Yes that shouting and anger doesn’t push me to be the best version of myself. They just reaffirmed that I don’t like being yelled at and that I’m a lover not a fighter!  I also learnt that I never would want to go to war. 

Did anything the DS said stay with you?

What really stayed with me was how real it felt — like going to war. At first, there were jokes and explosions and you kind of tell yourself it’s just a show. But once you’re thrown to the ground, your heart is racing and your nervous system doesn’t know it’s not real, I had to keep reminding myself to breathe.

The tunnel — Rat Race — was next level. I wasn’t fit enough, but I did it. Everyone was so supportive. Once upon a time, I would’ve been gutted about my lack of physical ability, but instead I just focused on doing the best I could with what I had. Finishing it, even though we failed, I was incredibly proud.

What fears did you overcome?

I had fears going into Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins just around that kind of masculine aggression energy. I wasn't sure how I would deal with that. And I felt like I dealt with it really well. I've really worked on mindset in the last few years of just being able to be in my own space and know that we're doing a show and not take it on board. It's not personal. It's just part of life in this particular scenario. So that was great. The DS were strong, hard, fierce, awful sometimes, nice other times. And yeah, that kind of was really amazing. And also just when I felt fear, I was able to calm my nervous system through breath and somatic healing and just a few of the other tools that I've learned over the years.

How would you sum up your Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins experience?

It was transformative. I learned more about myself in that intense period than I ever expected. But mostly I realised that the work I had already done on myself was the hero in it all.

What luxury did you miss most during the experience?

I missed having a comfortable bed!  

How did you find the living situation?

Honestly, hilarious and humiliating. Toilets are embarrassing at the best of times, but you just get over it. I’d done I’m A Celebrity before, so I’d already lost my shame there. Sleeping wasn’t comfortable, but you cope.

What was the first thing you did after leaving?

I didn’t really come back down to earth for a few days. The psych told us to write down our feelings, which really helped. I think I journaled, slept in a proper bed, and probably had a glass of red wine.

Did your kids give you extra strength going in?

They supported me completely, but they were scared — more for my mental health than my physical health. I wanted to show them that you push when things are hard, but it’s also okay to say enough is enough. I know they’re proud of me.

What was the one thing you wanted people to understand about you from this show?

I wanted people to see my determination and willingness to face challenges head-on, no matter the odds.

Who was the most surprisingly competitive person on the show?

There were a few surprises, but Ryan really stepped up in ways I didn’t expect. His drive was incredible.

What’s something you learned about yourself that surprised you?

I discovered that I could push through limits I thought were unbreakable. I’m much stronger than I realised.  I also learnt I have hard limits, my own boundaries and they are there for a purpose and those boundaries I have set over many years serve me well. 

Which moment made you feel proudest?

Completing a particularly tough challenge that I initially thought I would fail at.  The water challenge.  It showed me that I can overcome fears (I'm not a water baby even though I grew up in Woolongong near the beach). 

What is one key memory that will stick with you forever from Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins?

Hahah the poo conversations!  It was rather intimate!