Kym Valentine
| Kym Valentine | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kym Valentine 24 May 1977 Sydney, Australia |
| Years active | 1992–present |
Kym Valentine (born 24 May 1977 in Sydney) is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.
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[edit] Early and personal life
Valentine attended Arthur Phillip High School in Parramatta, beginning her acting career in a McDonald's fast food advertisement at age five.
Valentine married singer Fabio Tolli. They have a daughter, Millana Valentine-Tolli (b. 21 August 2003). The couple separated in 2007.[1]
In April 2008, it emerged that Valentine was involved in a relationship with Australian actor Vince Colosimo. It was suggested this may cause tension on the Neighbours set as Colosimo had recently separated from fellow Neighbours actor Jane Hall.[2] In October 2008 Kym publicly announced that she and Colismo were no longer dating and that they had only ever been friends.[3]
On 4 July 2008, Valentine collapsed on a flight home from New York and was diagnosed with pneumonia and a collapsed lung.[4] Valentine was told that she needed to rest for a month and she could not return to work on Neighbours.[4]
In July 2010, Valentine was hospitalised with a suspected blood clot on her lung. However, it was later announced that she was suffering from a respiratory problem.[5] Valentine was admitted to hospital on 6 July and was ordered to stay there for four days[5]
[edit] Career
Her television appearances have included My Two Wives, Adult Illiteracy, At Bathurst, Candid Camera, Home and Away, Swap Shop, HoopsTV and Cheez TV
In 1994 at age 17 she joined the cast of Neighbours, moving to Melbourne to take the role. She remained on the show until 2004. She opted to leave, wanting to start a family and extend her acting repertoire by returning to the stage. Her character was written out of the storyline in a way allowing her to potentially return.
In 2005, Valentine took the lead role of Baby in Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. She was set to reprise her role when the production moved to London's West End from summer 2006, but did not get the part after an audition. In June 2007, Valentine rejoined Neighbours on a permanent basis.
In July 2008, Valentine contracted pneumonia, and suffered a collapsed lung on a flight from New York to Melbourne causing her to pass out. The cabin crew gave the actress oxygen during the flight and when she arrived in Melbourne was taken to hospital for further treatment. She stayed in hospital for several days before recuperating at home.[6][7]
On 10 August 2008 it was reported that Valentine had to temporarily pull out of her role in Neighbours in order to complete her recovery process. New Zealand actress Michala Banas took over the role for a month.[8] Valentine resumed the role from the first episode of the 2009 series. On 8 April 2009, Valentine made an appearance as herself on The Wright Stuff, a UK topical debate TV programme. On 1 Feb 2011, Kym Valentine has admitted that the reason she took time off from Neighbours was due to severe stress as a result of both "emotional and physical issues".
The actress, who checked into a private Melbourne hospital last month, explained that the issues were too "raw" to discuss but insisted that she feels much better.
According to the Herald Sun, she said: "In the past I had a series of private emotional and physical issues that led to a decline in my health, which are still too raw to talk about.
[edit] References
- ^ "'Neighbours' actress splits from husband". Digital Spy. 21 October 2007. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a78149/neighbours-actress-splits-from-husband.html. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
- ^ "Underbelly's Vince Colosimo romancing Neighbours' Kym Valentine". Herald Sun. 21 April 2008. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23572352-5012974,00.html.
- ^ Kym Valentine: "I hit rock bottom" Womans Day
- ^ a b Vickery, Colin (21 November 2008). "Kym Valentines's collapse caused a Neighbours headache". Herald Sun. Australia: The Herald and Weekly Times. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv/real-life-drama-on-ramsay-st/story-e6frf9ho-1111118104579. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Neighbours star Kym Valentine in hospital with respiratory problem, due back on set soon". Herald Sun (Australia: The Herald and Weekly Times). 8 July 2010. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/neighbours-star-kym-valentine-in-hospital-with-respiratory-problem-due-back-on-set-soon/story-e6frf96o-1225889447749. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ RTÉ.ie Entertainment: Neighbours star suffered collapsed lung
- ^ "Nightmare flight for actor Kym Valentine", Herald Sun
- ^ Kym Valentine takes a break from Neighbours, Herald Sun
