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Natalie Imbruglia: I'm a trailblazer breaking taboo of women talking about sperm donation

Natalie Imbruglia is happy to be a trailblazer for women considering becoming single parents through sperm donation. (Getty Images)
Natalie Imbruglia is happy to be a trailblazer for women considering becoming single parents through sperm donation. (Getty Images)

Natalie Imbruglia has said she has become a "trailblazer" for sperm donation and is happy to break the taboo for women who are considering having a baby as a single parent.

The Torn singer and former Neighbours star announced on social media in October 2019 that she had become a mother to a baby boy Max with the help of IVF and a sperm donor.

Imbruglia, 46, told Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Spinning Plates podcast: "I think what’s important on the journey is to have support.

Read more: Natalie Imbruglia announces the birth of her first child

“So, if I ever meet even strangers at a dinner party and they’re talking about wanting to do IVF, I give them my number and say ‘ask me anything,’ because it would have been really nice to have that.

"And these women well up because there’s some kind of weird taboo around it.

“I think for a lot of women it’s kind of like ‘Oh can I talk to you’ and they come up to me like that. It’s like I’ve become a trailblazer and I wasn’t even trying to be.”

And the Australian actor and singer she had felt cautious about the public reaction to her having a baby on her own.

Natalie Imbruglia attends the Spectre premiere, at the Royal Albert Hall - London
Natalie Imbruglia became a mother in October 2019 with the help of IVF and a sperm donor. (PA)

She said: “You wouldn’t think (there’s a taboo) until you’re in that situation.

“I felt like I didn’t know what I was going to get back at me in terms of judgment.

"But, in the end, I have received nothing but love, nothing but support, nothing but encouragement and that has been really reassuring.”

Imbruglia was previously married to Silverchair rocker Daniel Johns, but they divorced after five years of marriage in 2008.

In July 2019 she announced: “I’m expecting my first child this autumn. For those of you that know me, this has been something I have wanted for a very long time and I’m blessed that this is possible with the help of IVF and a sperm donor."

At the same time she revealed she has just signed a new record deal with BMG.

She is due to release he first album in six years, Firebird, on 24 September.

Imbruglia with former husband Daniel Johns.
Imbruglia with former husband Daniel Johns. (Getty Images)

Imbruglia first found fame starring as Beth Brennan in the Australian soap Neighbours.

She began her singing career three years after leaving the show and had a worldwide hit with her cover of LA band Ednaswap’s song Torn.

Read more: Natalie Imbruglia addresses Torn controversy

In the late 90s she dated Friends actor David Schwimmer.

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