While soap stars come and go, Kym Valentine continues to be a television success

Secrets of a Survivor

When Kym Valentine first auditioned for the role of Libby Kennedy in Neighbours, she had no idea she would go on to become one of the soap's veteran cast members. Sure enough, five years on, Kym is still going strong. Most young actors stay a couple of years but Kym has realized the value of staying put- and she has earned the respect of her peers because of it.

"My first contract was for six months, with a six- month option," she remembers. "I though, 'Oh, it would be great if they keep me on for a year.' There are two main reasons why I've stayed. For starters, it doesn't bother me whether it's on Neighbours, or down at the local theatre- I want to be employed. Secondly, I'm still learning about myself and my craft. Neighbours is a great vehicle, and while my work continues to improve I will stay."

Like her alter ego Libby, Kym has learned from her mistakes and emerged bright and confident. She is also quick to dispel the belief that all soap actors either go on to pop stardom or fade into obscurity, "When you're on a five-nights-a-week soap, your profile is high, so anything else is going to seem like a drop," she says. "But it's not necessarily the case. I'm the kind of person that it won't matter to me if I'm not in the public eye. I'll just be content to be working."

While fans will be pleased to learn that Kym has no intention of leaving Neighbours, they'll also be intrigued with the twists and turns in store for Libby. It would be fair to say that, in recent months, she has totally reinvented herself. Once unlucky in love, she's now positively glowing with happiness. "Libby's relationship with Drew has opened a whole new chapter," Kym says. "She was getting pessimistic, but now her enthusiasm is back."

Kym will continue to hone her skills while she pursues other projects. Like many of her co- stars, she often spends Christmas doing pantomime in UK. "You get so used to working in a studio with the same cast and crew. To get up on stage, in an unfamiliar environment, is going right out on a limb!" It's not going out on a limb to say keep an eye on Kym. She's a quiet achiever who has only just begun.

Writer: Jason Herbison

Source: TV Week, 1999

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