Bassingthwaighte taking speech lessons

Natalie Bassingthwaighte has apparently been spending time with a dialect coach in a bid to perfect her American accent.

The former Neighbours star, who was also lead singer with band Rogue Traders and presenter of reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance, is trying to break into the US entertainment industry.

Bassingthwaighte told The Daily Telegraph that "it's a standard American accent" that she is trying to master in the lessons.

The Australian star, who now lives in Los Angeles, also said she has an addiction to shopping, saying: "Like every other woman under the sun I have a bit of a fashion problem."