Kym Valentine discusses recent illness

Kym Valentine has admitted that the reason she took time off from Neighbours was due to severe stress as a result of both "emotional and physical issues".

The actress, who checked into a private Melbourne hospital last month, explained that the issues were too "raw" to discuss but insisted that she feels much better.

According to the Herald Sun, she said: "In the past I had a series of private emotional and physical issues that led to a decline in my health, which are still too raw to talk about.

"However right now I feel great and I'm so excited to be back at work. I'm very grateful to the producers for allowing me time off to get healthy again and this year is already looking fantastic."

The 33-year-old also revealed that she cut her hair short to mark a new beginning for 2011.

She added: "I've had my hair long forever, and thought 'Well, it's a new year, I feel like a new me. So why not a new do?'"

Valentine had pneumonia in 2008 and then suffered a collapsed lung on a flight from the US to Melbourne.