The multi-talented Natalie Imbruglia makes a welcome return to Australia as a judge on THE X FACTOR.

“I am over the moon about being back in Australia,” she says. “It’s great to be closer to my friends and family and it is home after all.”

Natalie began her career in television at age 17. In 1997, she recorded her debut album Left of the Middle, which proved a huge success with more than seven million copies sold world-wide.

Her first single Torn propelled Natalie into the international spotlight. It broke the UK radio play record and, in the US, it remained number one on the airplay charts for 11 weeks.

Left of The Middle earned Natalie six ARIA Awards, a Billboard Music Award, an MTV Award and two BRIT Awards.

In November 2001, Natalie released her second album White Lilies Island, written between England and the US, and recorded in London with a string of prestigious producers including Ian Stanley, Gary Clark, Phil Thornally and Pascal Gabriel.

On the album, which proved another huge success, Natalie collaborated with renowned songwriters including Clark, Thornally, Matt Wilder and Pat Leonard, a long-time co-writer for Madonna. The album’s first single Wrong Impression was an international radio hit.

In 2002, she performed songs for the films Dogma and Stigmata, in which she interpreted a composition by Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins. She also collaborated with Tom Jones on his album Reload performing a cover of the INXS hit Never Tear Us Apart.

That year Natalie was also chosen as the face of L’Oreal Cosmetics and became the first singer to become an ambassador of the brand.

Parallel to an international singing career, Natalie made her 2003 movie debut opposite Rowan Atkinson and John Malkovich in Peter Howitt’s feature film Johnny English.

In 2004, Natalie became an Ambassador for Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite Charity, which led to her becoming the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) spokesperson for the Campaign To End Fistula.**

Natalie is committed to raising awareness and funds for this little-known condition. She has visited Nigeria and Ethiopia over the years, and has been a keynote speaker at briefings in UK and North America. At her inaugural fundraising event in London in November 2006, over one million dollars was raised for treatment, prevention and re-habilitation centres in Nigeria.

Natalie returned to the music scene in May 2005 with her third album Counting Down the Days. The first single Shiver went on to become the most played record of 2005 in the UK, and the sales of the album took Natalie’s total sales close to 10 million units.

To mark her 10 years in the music industry, she released a greatest hits compilation in 2007 entitled Glorious: The Singles 1997-2007.

In 2008 Natalie filmed a lead role in the feature film Closed For Winter, based on a book by acclaimed Australian writer Georgia Blain. Produced by Ben Grant and directed by James Bogle, her portrayal of Elise won rave reviews from film critics.

Her fourth album Come to Life was released in February 2010. She worked with a variety of old friends and colleagues all over the world including Cold Play’s Chris Martin.

Natalie returned to television in the UK this year as a judge on the UK version of The X Factor, standing in for Dannii Minogue who was in the latter stages of her pregnancy at the time.

“I’m a huge fan of the show and it’s a dream job for me,” she says. “I’ve wanted to be a part of it from the get go. I’m at a point in my career where I’m excited to be able share some of my knowledge with people at the beginning of their career and to help to bring out the best in them.”

Natalie’s category to mentor is Under 25 Girls.
Her top six are: Samantha Clarke, 19 from WA; India-Rose Madderom, 21 (NSW); Hayley Teal, 20 (SA); Ashlee Bellchambers, 16 (Vic); Alice McDermott, 16 (Qld) and Sally Chatfield, 20 (Vic).