Singer Natalie Imbruglia has spoken about experiences of exploitation during her teenage years in the entertainment industry, stating she did not feel empowered to refuse requests.
Imbruglia, who first gained prominence as a teenager on the Australian soap opera "Neighbours" before achieving international music success with her 1997 hit "Torn," revealed in an interview with Stellar magazine that she was asked to audition in a bikini.
"I was so dysmorphic and self-conscious. I'd been exploited," Imbruglia stated. "I had to audition in my bikini and walk up and down the room."
She also recounted a situation where she agreed to what she believed was a fashion magazine shoot, only to discover it was for lingerie. "I didn't know I could say no. So I just did the pictures!" she said, noting that the photographs were subsequently sold internationally, which she found to be a "traumatising" experience.
Imbruglia was 16 when she joined the cast of "Neighbours." She moved to the UK in 1994 to pursue acting, describing the transition into what felt like an "adult's world" as being overwhelming. She reflected that it took about a decade after leaving the show to fully process these early career experiences.
These early experiences influenced how she approached her image and career when "Torn" propelled her to global stardom. By the time she filmed the music video for the hit song, Imbruglia was determined to have more control over her appearance. She requested to wear her own clothes for the video, resulting in the iconic 1990s look that included army fatigues, a transfer T-shirt from London's Portobello Road Market, trainers, and a jacket.
"By the 'Torn' video, I didn't want anybody to see my silhouette, or to wear clothes I was uncomfortable in," she explained. "I just wore what I would every day."
Despite the "Torn" video becoming a career-defining moment, Imbruglia admitted to feeling nervous during its filming. The song itself remains closely associated with her nearly three decades later, an association she has learned to embrace.
Returning to the spotlight for promotional activities earlier this year, Imbruglia described the experience of posing for photographs and interviews as "jarring." She noted a period of readjustment, recalling the moment she had to remind herself, "It's my job" when faced with cameras and questions.