Natalie Wihongi is one of the many celebrity spouses in Hollywood who gained fame from their marriage to a superstar. But beyond that, she is a makeup artist who has created stunning looks for various movie productions. We explore her life and marriage to Karl Urban in this article.
Natalie Wihongi: Early Life and Background
Natalie Wihongi was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 8, 1972. She was reportedly born into a prominent family, though there’s limited information about her family.
It has been reported that she attended Epson Girls Grammar School in New Zealand for her primary and secondary school education. She attended a private university in Auckland, New Zealand.
Doing justice to Wihongi’s beauty will be difficult because she is gorgeous and has blonde hair and a rocking body, with which she has endeared many. It is easy to imagine that her beauty must have been a significant attraction for Urban when the pair first met on set in 2004. Despite having two kids already, Natalie Wihongi has continued to look young.
Natalie Wihongi’s Career
Wihongi became interested in makeup and took a short course after high school. But to make a name for herself, she moved to Los Angeles in the US.
Since relocating to the US, she has worked as a Hollywood makeup artist. This marked the beginning of her career as a professional makeup artist. Her career has opened the door for her to meet with many famous entertainment figures in America.
Wihongi got her first job in 2000 for the film “The Privateers,” where she met her ex-husband. The movie focuses on Captain Aran Dravyk’s (Karl Urban) daring exploits with his band of space buccaneers, sanctioned by the Letters of Mark of the Allegiance government. She was the designated makeup artist of the lead actor, Karl Urban, and their meeting on this movie set was the genesis of their relationship.
She also worked on “Rain” in the makeup department in 2001. “Rain” was a movie about a German Shepard trained to fight in the Vietnam War, where her intelligence and bravery earned the respect and loyalty of her platoon. Wihongi has since worked on several movies pre- and post-production.
Who Is Natalie Wihongi’s Ex-Husband, Karl Urban?
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Karl Urban’s roots can be traced back to this vibrant city. His father, an immigrant from Germany, was the proud owner of a leather goods store, while his mother had previously worked for Film Facilities in Wellington. Through his mother’s influence, a young Urban was introduced to the rich world of classic New Zealand cinema, igniting his passion and setting him on a path toward the film industry.
Karl-Heinz Urban began his career by appearing in various New Zealand films and TV series, including the popular show “Xena: Warrior Princess.” He debuted in Hollywood with the horror film “Ghost Ship” in 2002.
He gained widespread recognition for his memorable roles in “Star Trek” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Urban had his first acting part at age eight when he was tasked with a single line in an episode of “Pioneer Woman,” a famous New Zealand television series. But he did not pursue acting professionally until after his high school education.
After college, he got several opportunities to showcase his talent through numerous theater productions. He was also featured in several local television advertisements. Subsequently, he moved to Auckland, where he secured several guest roles on television series.
What Happened to Natalie Wihongi and Karl Urban’s Marriage?
Wihongi became famous due to her connection with Karl Urban, a celebrated New Zealand actor known for his roles in “Riddick,” and “Thor: Ragnarok.” The former couple first encountered each other while Wihongi was providing makeup services for filming “The Privateers” in 2000, with Urban as one of the actors.
Their love story is a typical Hollywood romance where both parties meet on set. They felt instant attraction for one another, and they started a relationship.
Within a year after, they had their first child, Hunter Urban, who was born on December 16, 2000. In September 2004, the duo exchanged their wedding vows. The following year, they welcomed their second child, Indiana Urban, on June 28, 2005.
The couple named their second son after Harrison Ford’s iconic character, “Indiana Jones,” of whom Urban is a huge fan. Their marriage was going fine, but it came crashing down like most Hollywood marriages.
After ten years together, they announced their separation in June 2014. According to New Zealand Herald, the couple said, “It is with great regret that we, Karl Urban and Natalie Wihongi, have made the mutual decision to separate. We are committed to maintaining our family relationship, working together to ensure that our children are affected as little as possible. We request that people respect our family’s privacy at this time and will be making no further comment.”
Where Are They Now?
After their divorce, they finalized their separation by selling their Auckland mansion. Despite their divorce, the two have managed to maintain a strong friendship for the sake of co-parenting their two wonderful boys. Wihongi has moved on and is in a new relationship, just as Urban found love elsewhere. The actor began dating his co-star from “Riddick,” Katee Sackhoff.
In November 2014, Katee introduced Urban to her parents, and a few months later, Urban introduced Sackhoff to his children. Unfortunately, their relationship proved to be short-lived. On August 7, 2019, Urban took to Twitter to announce that he and Sackhoff had separated after being apart for over a year.
Despite the drama in his personal life, Urban has continued to advance his career. He has earned more features, and his fanbase has continued to grow. On the other hand, Wihongi has lived quietly ever since their separation. This is unsurprising, considering that her fame was due to her ex-husband’s name.