Kym Valentine
Encyclopedia
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian
actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy
in the soap opera Neighbours
.
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.
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
. In October 2008 Kym publicly announced that she and Colismo were no longer dating and that they had only ever been friends.
On 4 July 2008, Valentine collapsed on a flight home from New York and was diagnosed with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Valentine was told that she needed to rest for a month and she could not return to work on Neighbours.
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. Valentine was admitted to hospital on 6 July and was ordered to stay there for four days
, 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.
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. 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.
Maltese Australian
Maltese Australians are residents or citizens of Australia who are of Maltese ancestry or Maltese citizens. While most of them emigrated to Australia from Malta, a number emigrated from the United Kingdom where they had settled after having been expelled from Egypt, as holders of British passports,...
actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
in the soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
.
Early and personal life
Valentine attended Arthur Phillip High SchoolArthur Phillip High School
Arthur Phillip High School is a coeducational public high school in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established in 1960 in its own right, in buildings which had been used continuously as a school since 1875, and is named for Arthur Phillip, the first governor of the state of...
in Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, beginning her acting career in a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
fast food advertisement
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
at age five.
Valentine married singer Fabio Tolli. They have a daughter, Millana Valentine-Tolli (b. 21 August 2003). The couple separated in 2007.
In April 2008, it emerged that Valentine was involved in a relationship with Australian actor Vince Colosimo
Vince Colosimo
Vincenzo Colosimo is an Australian AFI Award winning stage, television and screen actor. He has worked in both Australia and the United States.-Personal life:...
. It was suggested this may cause tension on the Neighbours set as Colosimo had recently separated from fellow Neighbours actor Jane Hall
Jane Hall (actress)
Jane Hall is an Australian actress and comedian.-Biography:Born in Melbourne, Hall grew up in the Dandenong Ranges....
. In October 2008 Kym publicly announced that she and Colismo were no longer dating and that they had only ever been friends.
On 4 July 2008, Valentine collapsed on a flight home from New York and was diagnosed with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Valentine was told that she needed to rest for a month and she could not return to work on Neighbours.
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. Valentine was admitted to hospital on 6 July and was ordered to stay there for four days
Career
Her television appearances have included My Two WivesMy Two Wives
My Two Wives was an Australian situation comedy series produced by Gary Reilly Productions in 1992.The situation of My Two Wives involved a divorced man who moves into an apartment with his new wife and her daughter, only to learn that his ex-wife resides in the apartment directly below.The cast...
, Adult Illiteracy, At Bathurst, Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
, Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, Swap Shop, HoopsTV and Cheez TV
Cheez TV
Cheez TV was an Australian children's cartoon show, created by Bill McQueen, that aired on weekday mornings on Network Ten. It began broadcasting on 2 July 1995 and it ended on 31 December 2004 with the presenters leaving. After eight months of being without presenters, it officially ended on 20...
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
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
at the Theatre Royal, Sydney
Theatre Royal, Sydney
The Theatre Royal in Sydney is Australia's oldest theatrical institution. Sydney's original Theatre Royal was built in 1827 behind the Royal Hotel, but burned to the ground in 1840. The name was dormant for 35 years until 1875 when a new Theatre Royal was built in the location where the current...
. 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
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, 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.
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
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
actress Michala Banas
Michala Banas
Michala Elizabeth Laurinda Banas is a New Zealand television actress, and singer now living in Australia.-Career:Born in Wellington, New Zealand, she starred in her first commercial at only 18 months of age....
took over the role for a month. 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
The Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff is a British television chat show, hosted by Matthew Wright, and currently airing on Channel 5 each weekday morning from 9:15 to 11:10am....
, 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.