Natalie Bassing thwaighte Life begins

NEWLY ENGAGED, WITH A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ONE-WOMAN PLAY AND MEMOIR, THE STAR IS FEELING HER MOST JOYOUS' YET

- Carolyn Hiblen

Most people dread turning the big 5-0, but most people aren’t Natalie Bassingthwaighte. While the last few years may have been full of upheaval, with her personal and professional lives flourishing, the newly engaged star welcomed the milestone last month with open arms.

Helping her celebrate was her partner of two years, Pip Loth, with the couple jetting off to Canada – where the actress got down on bended knee at Niagara Falls and popped the question to a surprised Loth – and New York, before returning home to ring in the milestone and celebrate their good news with their nearest and dearest.

“New York ended up being a big part of my birthday and my partner’s birthday, too,” Bassingthwaighte says, adding that they went crazy fitting in as many Broadway musicals as they could during their stay. “Oh, my God, we didn’t stop. We were there for eight days. We saw Death Becomes Her. We saw The Outsiders. We saw Call Me Izzy