FORMER Neighbours star Kym Valentine who played Libby Kennedy in the popular television show for fourteen years is suing producers for sex and disability discrimination.
The star is reportedly demanding she be reinstated on the show and is seeking compensation for lost wages, “pain, hurt, suffering and humiliation”.
The 36-year-old actor has not appeared on the show since taking indefinite sick leave two years ago for a depressive illness which was compounded by a series of health issues.
In 2009 actor Michala Banas was temporarily cast to play Libby Kennedy leaving Ms Valentine devastated.
“It was like being told your boyfriend was going to be intimate with someone else and you not only had to deal with it, but be happy about it,” Ms Valentine said.
Susan Bowers, then executive producer of the show, said: “Kym was just too ill to return to do the workload required to finish the episode in time for our contracted delivery date.”
Ms Valentine, who played Dr Karl Kennedy’s daughter between 1994 and 2011, is alleging FremantleMedia failed to provide a safe working environment and breached “the relationship of trust and confidence”.
@AndiePrad said on Twitter: “Bring back Libby Kennedy! She’s my favourite!”
Libby Kennedy leaving Neighbours in 2004 before returning in 2007:
