Nat Barr opens up about her behind the scenes struggle: 'It's so hard'

• TV star misses the feedback she craves
• READ MORE: Sunrise host Natalie Barr reveals family heartache

Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr has opened up about a behind-the-scenes challenge in her television career: the difficulty of receiving genuine, constructive feedback.

Barr, who has been a familiar face on Australian morning television since 2008, told The Nightly that despite her ongoing efforts to improve, honest critiques are hard to come by in the industry.

'It’s so hard to get feedback in this business, very few people will tell you that.

'In my experience, very few people will tell you the truth,' she said.

'If you ask most people, "How was that?", they'll say, "Yeah, it was great". That's not what you need.

'Maybe I'm too harsh (on myself), maybe that's just my personality but I find there's hardly anyone who will give me honest feedback.'

Barr also reflected on a formative moment early in her career, when a former boss gave her a blunt but valuable critique.

She was told her interviewing style came across as too aggressive - and while it was hard to hear at the time, she said that she learned from it.

Barr has since gone on to be a prominent voice on Australia's screens with many calling her the 'Queen of breakfast TV'.

Barr starts her day at 3.30am, preparing for nearly four hours of live television.

Her mornings are packed with high-pressure interviews, including grilling politicians -often with just minutes to prepare.

'If you give politicians the chance to spin, obfuscate and distract, they will, so being able to get them to focus and give a straight answer is crucial,' she said.

After 35 years in journalism, Barr says she’s gained the confidence needed to handle even the toughest interviews.

'I've had to go with my gut many, many times. I don't think I could've done this years ago because I would've been too scared. If you second guess yourself, then you've lost the moment.'

Earlier this year the 56-year-old, opened up about feeling heartbroken after both her sons Lachlan, 23, and Hunter, 19, moved out of home.

She is now an empty nester and lives in Mosman with her film editor husband Andrew Thompson.

'It sort of sneaks up on you because you spend all these years where your main focus is those kids,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'Some days you barely remember how you got through and then suddenly somehow overnight, it ends.

'I was shocked about how sad it was. I spent all last year being sad.'

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