Neighbours Golden Couple:

Libby Kennedy and Drew Kirk

"My second mum"

Kym Valentine and Jackie Woodburne talk about their special friendship

Ramsay Street's Susan and Libby Kennedy enjoy a close mother/daughter relationship and, off screen, it's a similar story for talented actors Jackie Woodburne and Kym Valentine. Like their characters, they've weathered many storms and always come out smiling. TV WEEK caught up with the pair during a break in filming, and asked them to talk about their relationship.

KYM ON JACKIE

"JACKIE has always been a role model for me, in every way. She's helped me set my standards for what is acceptable and what is not. I fact, she has lifted my standards to great heights. I have learned so much from her- no drama school could teach me what I have learned from Jackie. I feel blessed to have someone like her to model myself on. When I won the role on Neighbours six years ago, I had to move from my home town of Sydney to Melbourne. In many ways it was a terrifying time, but having someone like Jackie around to help me made it easy. She really looked after me back then, and I think her wonderful nurturing nature has rubbed off on me. Nowadays, when somebody new joins the show, I tend to mother them because I remember how well Jackie looked after me! In the past few years, as I have grown older, we have become even closer. Now that I'm over my crazy teenage years, we have a lot more in common. I'm sure we will always be friends in years to come, even it fate takes us in different directions. I can imagine bumping into her 20 years and slip straight back into the same grove we're in now."

JACKIE ON KYM

"I'M always happy to talk about Kym. I think we have a happy mixture of friendship and that mother/daughter relationship. Of course, she's got a terrific mum. But because of my generation, I have taken on that role from time to time. I also think she's a great young woman and a good friend. She's a true professional and is always prepared. Sure, we have our good and bad days, but time after time she comes up with the goods. Of course, there is a generation gap. I come from a generation of women who lay down with banners in front of police cars. Kym's hopefully from a generation who has enjoyed the results of those protests. She knows her rights and that's fantastic. Of course, she still makes the same social and relationship gaffes that we all do- but they're things we can all relate to. Kym told me recently that I'd offered her some useful bits of advice over the years- and I'm thrilled that she's taken them on board. I think Kym will have a long and successful career if she chooses to. I'm very proud of what she's achieved in the time I have known her."