Actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte has faced online commentary after discussing a past personal affair in her memoir and a recent podcast interview. Fans noted striking similarities between Bassingthwaighte's real-life experience and the storyline of her character, Izzy Hoyland, on the television soap opera "Neighbours."
In her memoir, "Love Like This," and on the "Inherited" podcast, Bassingthwaighte, 50, disclosed an affair she had at age 19 with a man who was 55 and married. She described the relationship as falling in love with someone who made her feel valued, but acknowledged the difficulty of the situation concerning the man's wife.
"The hardest part was feeling deceitful because I've always felt like that's not who I am as a person to the core," Bassingthwaighte said on the podcast, according to reports. "The hardest part was her [the wife]. Knowing that you're doing something to someone else. When she came to me, it was the worst day of my life."
During this past relationship, Bassingthwaighte also revealed she became pregnant but later miscarried. This personal history has drawn parallels to the dramatic plotline involving her "Neighbours" character, Izzy Hoyland, in the early 2000s. The character's storyline included an affair with Dr. Karl Kennedy and a subsequent pregnancy, creating a significant love triangle with Karl's wife, Susan Kennedy.
Online comments on social media platforms, particularly on clips from the podcast, highlighted these parallels. Users drew direct comparisons, with some writing, "Yeah his name was Karl Kennedy we all watched it happen," and others stating, "Not her living her Neighbours storyline IRL."
Bassingthwaighte is currently engaged to Pip Loth. She was previously married to Cameron McGlinchey, with whom she shares two children. The actress and singer previously starred in the Australian band Rogue Traders.