It’s not every day that people’s career gets them into the limelight. Natalie Wihongi is that name that became a media’s interest not from her successful makeup artistry, but from her marriage to Karl Urban.
Natalie Wihongi is one of New Zealand’s most successful makeup artists. Her skill and elegance have added to her fame following her marriage to actor Karl Urban.
However, their beautiful union that got the public’s attention seemed like it wasn’t to last, as it came crashing down ten years later.
So, who’s Natalie Wihongi? How did she meet Karl Urban and what led to their divorce?
In this article, I’ll take you through the life of Natalie Wihongi, her career, net worth, movies, and her relationship with Karl Urban.
Natalie Wihongi’s Biography
Natalie Wihongi was born in Auckland, New Zealand. There’s no verifiable information on her exact day of birth. However, she was allegedly born in the early 1970s.
Her parents were reportedly well-to-do, her father being a successful businessman and her mother a housewife.
She had her early education at Epsom Girls Grammar School, New Zealand, and attended a local high school. She furthered her education at a private university in Auckland.
After graduation, she moved to the US, Los Angeles precisely, and started her career as a professional make-up artist for short films and television commercials.
Today, she’s one of the renowned New Zealand makeup artists and has worked on various Hollywood projects, including The Privateers and Rain.
Natalie Wihongi got married to Karl Urban in 2004 after the two met during the production of “The Privateers.” However, they got divorced after ten years in 2014. The marriage produced two boys.
Since her divorce, she has continued her career as a makeup artist. She’s also involved in various charity works and is passionate about creating breast cancer awareness.
Natalie is the patron of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
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Natalie Wihongi’s Profession
Natalie Wihongi is a professional make-up artist. She works with the make-up department in Hollywood and has been featured in various projects.
Natalie took an interest in the field at a young age and took a short course sometime after her high school graduation. She professionally began her career in 2000 with the movie, The Privateers.
Since then she has worked on different movie projects. She’d met her husband on one of her projects.
Natalie Wihongi Movies
Below are some of the movies Natalie Wihongi worked as a make-up artist:
The Privateers
Natalie Wihongi had worked as a makeup artist in this 2000 adventure movie. She was the assigned artist for Karl Urban. Their meeting was the start of their relationship.
The story follows Captain Aran Dravyk (Karl Urban), the lead actor, and his crew of space marauders, working under sanctions from Mark’s letters of the Allegiance government.
Rain
Rain is a 2001 movie that featured Natalie Wihongi in the makeup department, following her breakthrough with “The Privateer” the previous year.
The film tells the story of a German shepherd, Rain, who trained to fight in the Vietnam War. Her intelligence and fearlessness led her through many obstacles, earning the respect of her troop.
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What Is Natalie Wihongi’s Net Worth?
Natalie Wihongi has an estimated net worth between $700,000–$1,000,000. Her career as a makeup artist and the shared mansion she and Karl sold for NZ$6.65 million in 2014 after the divorce contributed to her wealth.
Natalie Wihongi Family
There’s no information on Natalie Wihongi’s parents and siblings other than her father being a businessman and her mother a housewife.
She started a family with Karl Urban in 2004 after the two met during a movie production in 2000. Not long after their relationship started in 2000, the lovebirds welcomed their first child, Hunter Urban, on December 16, 2000.
They were blessed with their second child, Indiana Urban on June 28, 2005, after tying the knot the previous year in September. They named him after Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford’s legendary character.
Unfortunately, what seemed like a lovely union came crashing down after ten years. In June 2014, according to the New Zealand Herald, the couple released a statement announcing their separation.
Following the divorce, they sold their mansion for NZ$6.65 million after purchasing it for NZ$5.25 million.
The ex-lovers have remained friends and co-parents to their boys who are now grown-ups.
Natalie Wihongi and Karl Urban
Natalie Wihongi and Karl Urban met during the shooting for the 2000 movie, The Privateers.
She was Karl Urban’s makeup artist. And what was a professional meeting soon turned into a romantic relationship. Soon after, they welcomed their first child in December of that year.
They got married in 2004 and welcomed another son the following year. However, their marriage ended in 2014.
Natalie’s marriage to Karl had brought her into the limelight, and she has remained famous even after the divorce.
Karl Urban is a New Zealand actor and Hollywood star. He started acting with features in New Zealand movies and series including Xena: Warrior Princess.
He clinched his first Hollywood role in 2002, featuring in the horror movie, Ghost Ship.
Karl rose to fame through many features in high-profile productions including The Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Supremacy, Dredd, Star Trek, Doom, and several more.
Also, apart from his career, he has participated in several philanthropic works in New Zealand.
After his marriage ended with Natalie in 2014, Karl had a four-year relationship with actress Katee Sackhoff from 2014–2018.
Natalie Wihongi’s Age
There’s no verifiable information regarding Natalie Wihongi’s date of birth. Different blog sites on the internet have different dates.
However, she’s believed to have been born in the early 1970s.
Where’s Natalie Wihongi Now?
Natalie remains a mother to her two boys while she continues her career as a makeup artist.
Also, she’s a passionate advocate for breast cancer awareness.
Takeaway
Natalie Wihongi, one of the celebrities’ famous spouses, remains resilient after her marriage to a famous New Zealand and Hollywood star hits the rock.
The renowned make-up artist is a single mother of two boys.
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