AD
NEIGHBOURS star
Kym Valentine
has been forced to pull out of the show to recover from a collapsed lung and pneumonia.
McLeod's Daughters favourite Michala Banas will step into the role of Libby Kennedy from tomorrow as Valentine takes a one-month break.
Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower made the difficult and unusual decision to bring in Banas during the week.
Valentine, who has played Kennedy for more than 11 years, said handing over the role was extremely hard.
"It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her."
Valentine suffered a collapsed lung during a flight from New York to Australia on July 4.
She had oxygen administered by cabin staff when she passed out. She was taken to hospital in Melbourne and was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Banas said taking over the popular character was a huge challenge.
"I am going to be Libby, but I am not Kym Valentine."
picture of the two Libbys :
The Two Libbys™:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/Irish_Pic/0618864100.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/Irish_Pic/0618924900.jpg
Special thanks to http://www.perfectblend.net/[B]
McLeod's Daughters favourite Michala Banas will step into the role of Libby Kennedy from tomorrow as Valentine takes a one-month break.
Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower made the difficult and unusual decision to bring in Banas during the week.
Valentine, who has played Kennedy for more than 11 years, said handing over the role was extremely hard.
"It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her."
Valentine suffered a collapsed lung during a flight from New York to Australia on July 4.
She had oxygen administered by cabin staff when she passed out. She was taken to hospital in Melbourne and was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Banas said taking over the popular character was a huge challenge.
"I am going to be Libby, but I am not Kym Valentine."
picture of the two Libbys :
The Two Libbys™:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/Irish_Pic/0618864100.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/Irish_Pic/0618924900.jpg
Special thanks to http://www.perfectblend.net/[B]
PT
At first I thought, oh she's just a stunt double - then I thought, this is Neighbours.
It's purely ludicrous! Apparently next week Lou Carpenter gets replaced by Mr Blobby.
It's purely ludicrous! Apparently next week Lou Carpenter gets replaced by Mr Blobby.
BR
A bit of a contradiction there me thinks.
Not something they haven't done before - Cheryl Stark is the one I remember them replacing with someone who looked nothing alike. Can't think of any more recent examples though in either Neighbours or Home and Away - generally speaking head swaps are for characters who've left and come back, or when kids begin to speak.
ADDA posted:
"
It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do
, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her. "
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her. "
A bit of a contradiction there me thinks.
Not something they haven't done before - Cheryl Stark is the one I remember them replacing with someone who looked nothing alike. Can't think of any more recent examples though in either Neighbours or Home and Away - generally speaking head swaps are for characters who've left and come back, or when kids begin to speak.
NE
A bit of a contradiction there me thinks. .
Not really. She doesn't want to hand the role over, but if there's anyone she has to hand it to, she's happy it's this woman.
Brekkie posted:
ADDA posted:
"
It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do
, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her. "
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her. "
A bit of a contradiction there me thinks. .
Not really. She doesn't want to hand the role over, but if there's anyone she has to hand it to, she's happy it's this woman.