CSI: NY snubs Nat Bass audition
"A humbling experience." Natalie Bassingthwaighte goes from Gold Logie nomination to humiliating CSI: New York audition.
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Some Aussie actors have been lucky enough to come from near-obscurity to landing US television roles, and others who are big fish in our relatively small industry have learned there are no easy ways to open doors in America.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte says that when she turned up for an audition on CSI: New York the producers didn’t even turn on the camera.
“It was a shock to the system and a very humbling experience,” she has told news.com.au
“It’s one thing being in Australia, where a lot of people know who you are,” she said.
“But to start from scratch . . . it’s going to take a while to hit my mark, feel comfortable and do the best work I can.”
Bassingthwaighte, who was always a theatrical performer before ever taking up hosting duties, has had much success on Australian television, from soapie roles in Neighbours to fronting two seasons of So You Think You Can Dance Australia and landing Gold Logie nominations.
Meanwhile an Aussie-wood invasion in the US continues with expat actors appearing on Grey’s Anatomy, In Treatment, Hung, Dollhouse, Lost, The Mentalist, Chuck, Law and Order: SVU, Brothers and Sisters, Three Rivers, Damages, House, US Attorney -to name but a few.
Source: news.com.au
22 Responses
I reckon she should try for CSI:Miami where she could play the weekly blond bimbo. Her look is more suited to this CSI then the more down to earth original and NY.
Agree with hingo. I’ll also add weak host to the list
I don’t think this has anything to do with Nat’s acting ability. If they didn’t even turn the camera on it means she didn’t have the look they wanted. The CSIs and L&Os tend to have a quite narrow casting checklist on a per episode basis (bad guys, shady characters… not so much bubbly and beach like Nat).
Keep trying Nat!
Marco, I have seen her live at Homebake, and yes, she cannot sing. Absolutely hopeless. If I remember correctly, there was also a guitar solo in one of the songs and the guitarist was clearly trying to cover up the fact that he wasn’t playing it.
Are you sure she didn’t get the job?
She may have been trying for the part of “Dead Body #6”, that’s a role within her emotional range and talent!
(Sorry to be mean, but let’s be honest, she’s pretty ordinary aside from a modest amount of sex appeal.)
I guess she thinks if Holly Valance can get work in the US anyone can.
Good looks most definitely help with being a successful female or male actor in the US (and also here) in prime time TV and/or films, but most of the top actors in both are university educated in drama and/or come from a theatre background. Neighbours and Home & Away would both be considered the equivalents of C grade daytime soaps in the US. I’m sure she’s already been told, but Nat will have to shorten her surname to crack the US market, as it’d be seen as too hard to pronounce.
Hingo, you obviously haven’t seen Natalie perform live. She *can* sing.
Alfagirl – exactly. Now just tell that to Nat’s publicist, who seems to think everyone cares about any little move she makes.
The Aussie-wood invasion is just a clone army of Alan Dale.
What’s with all the snarkiness? She’s good she’s not. She can sing she can’t sing. Who cares?
I can’t belive some of these comments. Natalie was an absolute knock out in Neighbours. There is one actress that was incredibly wooden in Neighbours that has a regular role in one of the above mentioned primetime shows. So who knows what the the American producers are looking for. By the way, usually all the actors in the CSIs are pretty good looking. Have the people making these comments ever watched the shows? Go Natalie, we love you.
You can’t tell if someone can act by their performances on Neighbours. They shoot a zillion scenes a day with very few takes and very average writing. Have a look at that guy who was on Home and Away and is now on True Blood. Or Guy Pierce. I’m sure there are countless other examples.
I’d like to see these people say these comments to Natalie’s face. Natalie is an accomplished stage actor and singer.
sorry blake, but in Australia, blonde good lokking actors get the prime roles and everyone else is cast as a misfit, terrorist, wog, criminal etc.
At least if CSI are looking beyond the typical bimbo/himbo then it might be a sign that the story won’t revolve around something you’d see on Friends rather, soemthing of substance with ordinary people represented.
that isnt fair, she at least deservers an audition, unless they didnt like the look of her for the part or something.
She is a hopeless actor and an even worse singer. With these days of auto tune, anyone can be a singer for a manufactured pop band like Rogue Traders. They just needed someone who was recognisable and looked good, so she fit the bill. No such technology exists to improve her acting. I was glad when she left Neighbours. Same old expressions, same old voice tones. It could have been a muppet.
Oh, yeah, the acting on CSI:NY is just so amazing…not.
Boo hoo
She’s ok for Neighbours but US tv requires a whole other level of acting ability.
Rob, this article isn’t for sympathy. It just updates us on her quest to live her dream.
But since NatBass is a popular Australian, here come fellow Aussies ready to bring her down. Maybe Aussies should just not do or say anything. That way at least pointless critics will finally rest, just like our would-be credibility.
are we meant to feel sorry her?
her work has result from a gene pool that has produced good looks and a singing voice, maybe CSI are looking somewhat deeper than big boobs and long legs
Don’t worry Nat, we love you!!!