Natalie Imbruglia: OCD drove me mental

Natalie Imbruglia admits she almost went "insane" suffering from crippling OCD.

The Australian actress-and-singer became famous worldwide with the release of her hit 1997 song Torn.

But even though she may have had a sizzling public persona at the time, Natalie was experiencing agony behind closed doors.

"I have OCD, which can be a problem because I'm not good with change. My motto is 'No Surprises'. It's an OCD from my mother. It is hard. In trying to control things it doesn't work," she revealed to UK newspaper The Mirror, noting her obsessive compulsive disorder was even worse in the late 1990s.

"I was anxious, nervous, stressed out and scared. I didn't want to go outside in case people recognised me.

"It nearly sent me insane. I felt I had to live up to Torn. I didn't write it, but I was a part of the reason it was so successful."

Natalie entered her forties in February and she is so appreciative of being older.

"Turning 40 was a good thing for me," she noted. "I'm happier than I've ever been, I'm more settled and I'm not trying to be anything that I'm not."

And even though she's reached a greater level of maturity, don't expect her to dole out advice in the form of a book anytime soon.

Natalie absolutely loathes speaking about herself in a formal way.

"I once started an autobiography but I hated it," she shared. "I hated talking about myself so I had to buy back all the quotes from the journalist.

"It's like reading your own diary back and realising how annoying you are. There's a lot more interesting people in the world."

But Natalie thinks superstar songstress and fellow Australian Kylie Minogue would write a brilliant autobiography.

"She and I have been friends for a long, long time, " she said. "Us Aussies stick together. We are just like any other girlfriends on holiday – all subjects covered, put it that way.

"Kylie would be someone I would go to for advice on a long career. She's much more savvy."