Our Hollywood Calling! Shorty's Shooting Stars

They’re living the dream in LA

- Leena Tailor

It’s a long way from Ferndale to Hollywood, but as five of our favourite former Shortland Street stars snack on hard-to-find meat pies and sip bubbly at a hilltop pad overlooking Los Angeles, it’s clear they’re still Kiwis at heart.

Though Kimberley Crossman, Lee Donoghue, Fleur Saville, Kieren Hutchison and Bonnie Soper are busy making names for themselves in the States, they haven’t forgotten their roots and say their time on the iconic Kiwi soap has changed their lives.

During our shoot to mark Shorty’s 25th anniversary, Kimberley, 26, and 33-year-old Lee – who played brother and sister Sophie and Hunter McKay – could easily be mistaken for real-life squabbling siblings as they jokingly accuse each other of having body odour.

“I was absolutely terrified,” says the actress of her first day on Shorty. “Lee and I were filming at a beach and I had to do this cheerleading scene in a bikini. I spewed three times.”

Fast-forward a few years, and Kim and Lee remain close, having both made the transition to the US. “I never had a brother growing up and I still call him ‘Brother Lee’,” tells Kim, who has starred in NCIS: LA and the E! series Hashtaggers. “Lee and I have brunch on Sundays and he even spoke at my 21st.”

Lee is also furthering his career in Hollywood, filming a major role in the web series Fall into Me, but he still has fond memories of his time on Shorty, despite once being hit on the head with a baguette by a crazed fan!

“It was a big leap of faith choosing to leave,” he admits. “I spent my 20s on that show and had a blast. It was the most amazing life, but I’m happy I left and have grown so much.”