Susan Boyle is worth millions. But she's still living in her late mum's council home.

Content warning: This post deals with suicide and might be triggering for some readers.

Thirteen years ago, an unassuming 47-year-old called Susan Boyle stood before Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan at an audition for Britain's Got Talent in Glasgow, Scotland.

When the audition aired on TV, viewers of the show were collectively watching through their fingers by the time she took the stage, on the presumption she was going to be terrible.

After all, she'd had the 'comedy' music edit that often pokes fun at the contestants considered to be 'different'.

Then, she began to sing. 

And everyone in that audience hall - especially the judges - realised they had been wrong. Susan's rendition of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Misérables stunned everyone. And of course, Simon Cowell's face is still an iconic picture, ten years later.

I watch Susan Boyle’s X Factor audition at least once a month because she’s amazing and the look on Simon Cowell’s face is priceless pic.twitter.com/KHDnDTfqzU

— cerination street (@cer_eth) July 15, 2020

The audition changed everything for Susan, who quickly earned her own showbiz moniker 'SuBo'. 

She became the most talked-about person in the UK overnight, and, thanks to YouTube, her audition clip went viral worldwide. Soon she was being asked to appear on morning shows across the globe, even landing an interview with Oprah. 

Her audition clip has now amassed nearly 250 million views to date.

But even though it appeared that the ultimate fairytale was playing out before our very eyes, the reality was very different as Susan grappled with the relentless media attention and pressure that comes with being in the spotlight.

Watch: A decade after her unforgettable rendition of I Dreamed A Dream, Susan Boyle performed the song once again on Britain's Got Talent. Post continues below.

Susan Boyle's life in the wake of Britain's Got Talent.

Shortly after the show, Susan's life changed as she knew it. She entered a rehab centre after losing the Britain's Got Talent final to dance troupe, Diversity.

The production company behind the show was accused of exploiting Susan after they stated the reason she was in rehab was because she was suffering from "exhaustion".

The tabloid press then came out to play.

At the time, they came across information that Susan had been briefly deprived of oxygen during birth, leading her to have mild learning difficulties. But the tabloid press began running headlines such as 'brain damaged' without her consent.

In 2013, Susan revealed this was a misdiagnosis, and she actually has Asperger's. 

"I always knew it was an unfair label," she told The Guardian, revealing that she'd been diagnosed a year earlier but kept it a secret. "Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself."

Speaking with Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair Susan said she was relieved about the diagnosis. 

"That was just a relief for me, though, because for years I thought I had something a bit more serious, you know? So that took it off my shoulders a bit. [With] Asperger's you just have to make people aware that sometimes you have to go at a certain pace, don't be too bombarded with things. At the very beginning I was too bombarded," she explained.

"Everybody has something. I mean, a flaw, if you like. But you shouldn't be ashamed of it. It's something that you bring out in the open in the hope that you help other people. I like to feel I'm the voice for people who have been the underdog, and I wanted to try and prove myself."

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A post shared by Susan Boyle (@susanboylemusic)

Despite the tabloid pressure, Susan got to work on her album, 'I Dreamed A Dream'. It was the fastest-selling UK debut album of all time and the best opening week for a debut artist in the US in over a decade. She's also been nominated for Grammys, Billboard Awards and has won a World Music Award. Plus - she has sung for the Queen and released a best-selling memoir, The Woman I Was Born To Be. 

Susan's is now reportedly worth around AU$38 million. 

But of course, things aren't all rosy.

Listen to Mamamia's entertainment podcast The Spill. Post continues after audio.

Why Susan Boyle stayed out of the spotlight for five years.

It's certainly not been an easy road for Susan. She was twice targeted by criminals in her hometown of Blackburn. A man broke into her house in 2010 and in 2017 and it was reported she had been attacked by youths, leading her to step away from the spotlight.

Another issue for Susan, was that she was experiencing challenges within her own family.

After achieving significant stardom, of course that came with financial success too - and Susan's brother Gerry apparently wanted a piece of it.

She went on to employ several family members to look after her affairs. At the time, a family member went to the Mirror UK and claimed that Gerry had threatened suicide if Susan didn't give him a specific amount of money. She was asked whether the allegations were true or false, but Susan refused to "disown the source of the allegations", therefore leading to a rift between the siblings. Gerry has always denied this allegation.

Susan is one of nine children and was close to older brother Gerry while growing up in their council house in Blackburn, West Lothian. They have since reconciled.

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A post shared by Susan Boyle (@susanboylemusic)

Susan Boyle on returning to Britain's Got Talent.

In 2019, Susan returned to Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent to sing the song that made her famous once again. Following the performance, the judges gave her a standing ovation.

"You've still got the magic, Susan," Simon Cowell said after giving her a hug on stage. "Thank you for coming back."

2019 also marked her return to music, with her publicist noting - "The anniversary of her audition which made headlines around the world is the perfect time to launch a career comeback, and Simon and Susan are both very excited about the year ahead."

She continues to be signed to Simon's record label. Susan has also made a number of cameos in television and acting, saying she looks forward to continuing this.

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A post shared by Susan Boyle (@susanboylemusic)

Susan Boyle says she still lives a modest life.

Perhaps most poignant of all is the fact this global superstar hasn't changed at all.

Even though she bought a five-bedroom property (and is reportedly worth of AU$38 million), Susan still lives in the modest council house in Blackburn where she was raised. Blackburn is considered a poorer area in Scotland, with high levels of unemployment and crime, coupled with low incomes and poor education.

"I'm still in my parents' house, my niece has got the plush house," she said in an interview. "It's good to be in your mum's house as well, there are a lot of nice memories in my mum's. I sort of feel she's present here, somehow."

In the interview, she said that even though she does enjoy buying "Miu Miu shoes, a fur coat and an occasional bottle of Chanel No 5 perfume", she keeps things simple. 

Her mother's artworks still hang on the walls. There are lots of plush toys about, a rocking chair, coal fire and a cat.

And with all these things, she feels content.

"All my life I felt like an outsider looking in — but after that I felt like part of life at last," she said, reflecting on where her life is now. "I was always struggling to show I had as much ability as anyone else, and finally I did."

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A post shared by Susan Boyle (@susanboylemusic)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Susan Boyle (@susanboylemusic)

If you think you may be experiencing depression or another mental health problem, please contact your general practitioner. If you're based in Australia, 24-hour support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.

This post was originally published on June 6, 2019, and was updated on June 5, 2022.

Feature Image: Britain's Got Talent/Instagram @susanboylemusic.

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