Shorty star helps teens face up to bullies

Last updated 00:00 15/03/2009 

By ELLEN IRVINE - Sunday New

KIMBERLEY CROSSMAN

Shortland Street beauty Kimberley Crossman has stumbled into an unexpected new role helping teens who are the victims of bullies.

The actress has found herself an agony aunt for kids experiencing problems at school, thanks to her role as Sophie McKay on the TV2 soap.

Kids who have no one else to talk to are reaching out to the 20-year-old, and she's doing her best to help even counselling one troubled teen on the phone.

"I've got a girl at the moment who I'm helping I text her every day," Kimberley told Sunday News.

"She's having a really rough time. She's in seventh form. She's known me for a while, so I gave her a call. She's had a bit of trouble at school with friends and feels like she doesn't fit in.

"I talk to her now and then and try to give her things to look forward to. The best thing I can do is be a support."

It's a case of life imitating art, as on-screen Sophie has been trying to stop head boy Orlando (Chris Maclennan-Jones) from bullying classmates and putting the footage on the internet.

Kids are also writing in to Kimberley's website, KimberleyCrossman.com, to ask for help.

"It was kind of the reason why I wanted to start the site, as I think it's important," she said.

"With the role of being on the show, we are handed the role of being a role model as well. With that comes a huge amount of responsibility.

"I would never try and give professional advice to someone I would never cross that line but if there's anything I can help anyone with and give my two cents, I am happy to do it.

"They mainly are boyfriend questions or `I like a boy'. But people come to me about bullying quite a bit more with a respect to the Sophie storylines and they are interested in `did I get bullied at school?'.

"What people have seen on the show is the tip of the iceberg of the bullying you are about to see."

Kimberley's school days are behind her she was deputy head girl at Diocesan School for Girls in 2006. And while she admits she was never the target of bullying, she remembers "dramas" with friends.

"There were a few tiffs between friends, as there always is growing up. There wasn't any direct bullying towards me, as far as I can remember," she said.

"The fights and drama came from the problems that come from growing up and meeting boys and being at a girls' school.

"Most of the drama came from the boys we were hanging out with, to be honest."

While Kimberley advocates professional help for any serious issues, she's happy to lend an ear. And her advice?

"I'm no professional person, but life's too short to be unhappy. You are in charge of your own happiness," she said.

"The best thing I can do is be a support.

"Everyone gets bullied in different ways. It's important to be above it.

"It's always good to try and have someone to turn to and find something you enjoy doing to put the focus on other things.

"Good people don't bring other people down and people's true colours will come out."

Kimberley promises the arrival of Daniel Potts played by actor Ido Drent, who has been lauded as the show's new sex symbol will shake up Ferndale High.

And while Sophie's intentions aren't clear, Kimberley says she's happy to continue helping people.

"I'm not in a position to save everyone, but I'm always happy to talk to anyone. If they're excited to talk to Sophie off Shortland Street, that's awesome.

"If you can make someone's day, that's great." Are your kids being bullied at school?

Original Article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/entertainment/2262548/Shorty-star-helps-teens-face-up-to-bullies