Natalie Imbruglia reflects on midlife ADHD diagnosis and menopause journey
The Australian-British singer said conversations about menopause have become less taboo as she shared her personal journey
Natalie Imbruglia has opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD and OCD in midlife, describing her neurodiversity as her “superpower” while reflecting on the challenges of perimenopause.
The 51-year-old Australian-British singer and actress spoke candidly about her health in a new interview with The Sunday Times, revealing that receiving the diagnosis helped her better understand herself.
“You name it, there’s a sprinkle of it. They’re just labels. It’s not a negative, it’s my superpower,” Natalie said.
However, she admitted that one aspect of her neurodiversity remains difficult to manage, particularly before live performances.
“There’s a particular thing about my neurodiversity that’s hard for me to accept, which is how I get when I’m nervous before a show. Perimenopause made it worse,” she explained.
The “Torn” singer also reflected on the emotional impact of perimenopause, saying it felt like a major turning point in her life.
“Let’s just say it was a grieving process. I was really angry. I fell off a cliff. It felt like someone had taken some of my personality,” she said.
Natalie shared that speaking with menopause campaigner Davina McCall helped her better understand what she was experiencing as she dealt with symptoms including anger and anxiety.
She now manages those symptoms with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) creams and welcomed the growing openness surrounding conversations about menopause.
The singer is preparing to release her sixth studio album, Algorithm, in September and is also set to perform at a series of summer festivals.
Her latest comments come weeks after she discussed becoming a solo mother through IVF during an appearance on the How To Fail podcast with Elizabeth Day.
Natalie said she was disappointed by suggestions that choosing IVF meant she had chosen motherhood over a relationship.
“I think it’s really interesting that people frame it... somehow I’d chosen this over being with a man,” she said, adding that the decision was driven by her biological clock rather than a rejection of relationships.
She also described the IVF process as “pretty brutal” and encouraged women considering fertility treatment to educate themselves and seek support throughout the journey.
Looking back on discovering she was pregnant with her son Max in 2019, Natalie recalled thinking about other women still hoping to become mothers.
“In fact, I remember when I found out I was pregnant, the one thing in my mind was every woman on the planet who was still waiting,” she said. “Oh, that makes me emotional thinking about it.”