The Sun webchat > Natalie: Hubby made my Days > march 2005

If you're a fan of Natalie Imbruglia then there's one person you have to thank for the sexy star returning to the pop scene - her husband.

Although British-based Natalie and rocker Daniel Johns - lead singer with Australian band Silverchair - live in different countries, the former Neighbours actress says it's his love that inspired her new album Counting Down The Days.

Even the record's title is a reminder of how much she misses him when they're forced to spend time apart.

Answering your questions in our exclusive webchat, Natalie also talked about how she'll quit the music business if the album and new single Shiver flop and her desire to make movies she's proud of.

Hey Natalie, what are the songs on Counting Down The Days about?
Sarah

I'm in a long distance relationship - my husband Daniel lives in Australia, while I live in England - and that's a theme that runs throughout the album. A lot of the songs deal with that separation and longing for the person you love. But I was really happy emotionally, so it's not horribleness and desperation. It's about how I'm Counting Down The Days until I see Daniel again. Daniel is in England with me at the moment and we're having a really good run right now. He was here for months last year, we went home for Christmas together and we've not been separated since then.

How has becoming a married woman changed your life?
Richard, south London

It means I'm emotionally more stable, which makes everything else more fun. I'd recommend it to everybody - go out and get married! It's hard to say how it's changed my music, although this certainly would have been a darker album if I hadn't met Daniel. Also I was always someone who was married to my work and that was how I defined myself. But now I'm happy, and I have this other person, I don't live and die by my work. It's just something I do. And that's freed me up, things have become easier and more fun.

Hi Natalie, love your stuff! Will your new album be angsty like your debut Left Of The Middle or mellow like your second album White Lilies Island?
James, Glasgow

There are more similarities to the first album than the second. It's more commercial than the second one, as I'm a lot happier in myself. Unfortunately how I feel really affects the sort of music I make. The only way I know how to write songs is autobiographically and it's very hard if I'm feeling a certain way to ignore that. It's what I draw on.

Hi, I'm Marco from Natalie's Italian fan-club. Our members would like to know why we had to wait more than three years for the new album?
Marco, Italy

I just take a long time I'm afraid! Initially I was making a real rocky album, but the record company were like: "What are you doing?" Also, personally, I wasn't happy with it. I don't think I do that style best. So I scrapped a lot of that material and changing direction took a long time. I then changed management and also swapped record labels from BMG to Brightside, which also held things up. I'm very hands on with every aspect of making an album, which sometimes gives me a reputation for being difficult. But when you're a pop artist, rather than a musician, that's all you've got. You have to make sure it's your album.

You wrote 64 song for White Lilies Island. How many did you write this time? What happens to the tracks that don't make it?
Kuba, Poland

I wrote or co-wrote around the same amount of songs for Counting Down The Days, there was a lot of material. The songs I scrap are properly scrapped. I wouldn't give them to anyone else. If I don't like them, I can't turn around to someone and say: "Here, have a horrible song. Go make me some money with it!"

When will you be going on tour?
Julia, Florida

As soon as my management says: "OK Natalie, you can afford to go on tour - book the dates." If it was my choice I'd be touring the world right now, unfortunately there are a lot of factors and costs with touring so I can't do it until the record has real momentum. If this single and the album fly, I will tour as early and for as long as they let me. If I don't tour this record, I will quit!

Hi Natalie, I love your new single Shiver. How did you come up with that excellent video and were you scared doing all the car stunts?
Daniel

I love the movie The Bourne Supremacy. It had just come out and I was going over ideas with the director of the video. I said I wanted something raw and beautiful, but not glossy. He said: "Have you seen The Bourne Supremacy?" And I was like: "Yeah! Let's do that." I'm kinda like Matt Damon's character, but I didn't actually do any of the stunts. I know I look really scared in the video - but that's where my acting skills came into play. It was dangerous though, as we made it in the Ukraine and I could have frozen to death! Because I'm an actress as well as a singer I didn't actually think about the weather or if I'd be comfortable, I was only concerned about what the end result was going to be. Needless to say, when I got there, I was like: "What was I thinking!"

Hey Natalie, good to have you over here with us Brits! Do you enjoy living in England?
Another Natalie, Southampton

Yes, I've actually been living in England for 12 years now. I'll always be Australian but I've definitely seen changes in myself from living in the UK. I've become quite fond of the English reserve, which is the thing that I didn't like when I got here. I love Covent Garden, it's my favourite place to hang out, and Windsor where I live. You can't live on a beach here, so having a home on the River Thames is the next best thing. England's not as 'drop round to your friend's for a cup of tea' as Australia is, so you tend to spend more time on your own. But I like that, because it means I get my work done. And I always have the option of going into town for a big night out if I want to.

Have you got any new acting projects in the pipeline?
Tom, Bedfordshire

There is an independent film being made in Australia that is waiting for me, believe it or not. It's a really interesting character and nothing like anything I've ever done before. But I can't do it until I've finished promoting this record.

Hi Nat, what was it like working with Rowan Atkinson on the film Johnny English and will there be a sequel?
Karen Wilson

Rowan is great to work with - he's a very serious, self-deprecating, funny, sweet guy. Johnny English was fun, and an opportunity to work with Rowan and John Malkovich, but I didn't see it as a big acting challenge like this new movie should be. I've heard whispers about Johnny English 2 - but I haven't been invited!

Will you be part of Neighbours 20th anniversary celebrations? Are you still in touch with any of the cast?
Russell A. Trunk, Michigan, USA

That's definitely going to be fun to watch, especially as I heard Russell Crowe is doing it, but I'm afraid I'm going to be too busy promoting this record. I'm good friends with Kimberley Davies, who played Annalise. She's just had another baby. It's funny because we didn't really hang out when we worked together on Neighbours, but we're pals now. She lives in LA so whenever I'm there we go out. Other singers like Holly Valance and Kylie Minogue weren't on the show at the same time as me. So although we have something in common we don't hang out because of it.

Hi Natalie, I've seen you twice in concert, and you're the best! You have achieved such a lot in your career. What do you have left to fulfil?
Paul Struthers, Falkirk

Film. I'd still love to have the chance to make movies. But to be good at acting you have to absorb yourself into it and I don't have the time to do that right now. If I wasn't so involved in music, if I just turned up and sang, I could. But because of the nature of how I make my records I'd have to take time out and I can't see myself doing that while things are going so well.