Pictures: Miriam Watsemba
Six months after their fairytale Queenstown wedding, Kimberley Crossman and her filmmaker hubby Tom Walsh are still wrapped up in their postnuptial bliss.
The lovebirds radiate joy as they chat to Woman’s Day about their life as newlyweds. The actress, 34, is proudly wearing a “Wifey” sweatshirt and gushing about how married life is even more magical than she imagined.
“We spend quite a bit of time apart because of our careers, so I didn’t think that getting married in the middle of all the chaos would be too different – but it is!” says the actress, who has starred on Shortland Street, Creamerie and Raised By Refugees. “I keep looking at our rings and I love calling Tom my husband. I didn’t expect the word ‘wife’ to feel so exciting and cool.”
It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for the couple, starting with Tom’s romantic proposal in Italy, before their beautiful lakeside wedding in April and an idyllic honeymoon in Fiji, all slotted in around their busy professional schedules.
Kim’s nomadic lifestyle sees her bounce regularly between the couple’s Auckland base, where they currently live with Kim’s mum Jill and stepdad Chiefy, and Los Angeles, where she also works and has a home.
Tom, 45, whose work is mainly based in New Zealand, travels to LA regularly to spend time with his wife. The smitten couple are always in close contact, even when they are on different continents.
“When we’re apart, we message each other at least 20 times a day and video-call all the time,” Tom shares. Smiling, Kim adds, “We say good morning and goodnight to each other every day, and are constantly on the phone. We’re obsessed with each other, so it’s never a chore.”
The couple – who met on the set of Snack Masters NZ two and a half years ago – are both thoughtful when it comes to romantic gestures. Since they married, they’ve even continued their monthly tradition of writing each other heartfelt cards.
Kim has spoken openly about her struggles with depression and anxiety. However, thanks to the depth of her connection with Tom, she now feels the healthiest and happiest she has ever been.
“Words have always been my drug of choice, and Tom is amazing at writing and saying positive things,” she grins. “I’ve never had communication like this with a partner before, and Tom does it with such ease and grace.”
As well as being partners in life, Kim and Tom have started teaming up creatively. Kim is an ambassador for World Vision and she and Tom recently visited Uganda with the charity to highlight the heartbreaking challenges, such as child marriage and sexual abuse, facing girls in the African nation.
A passionate advocate for women’s and children’s rights, Kim says the trip had a big impact on the couple. They decided to use their talents as presenter and filmmaker to create a short documentary shining a spotlight on the harrowing stories of some of the brave girls they met.
Tom explains, “We felt like we have the skills, so we should do as much as we could to be helpful.”
Nodding, Kim continues, “It’s one thing to hear these stories from our bubble in New Zealand, but quite another to experience them first-hand. We were compelled to create the documentary to raise awareness. We’re excited to be releasing it this Friday to coincide with the International Day of the Girl.
“We’re trying to tell these stories so people feel more connected to what’s going on in Uganda. It’s so important to show people that they can make a difference. And as a filmmaker and presenter, Tom and I are in a position where we have the capacity to bring attention to these stories that are bigger than us.
“I’ve done a few trips with World Vision, but this was a very different experience,” she says. “Being there with Tom, I felt like I had my person there. We were able to face the hard moments together. It made us think a lot about personal issues and privilege, which was an interesting and uncomfortable journey.”
Although Tom adds, “Not all the stories were harrowing. On the northern border of Uganda, we visited a woman with seven children. They were living in a thriving community with mud huts. She’d made a vision board with paper and crayon. It featured pictures of a cow, a tree and a larger dwelling. There was hope for the future, which was the coolest thing.”
And Kim and Tom’s shared passion for doing meaningful work together has led to yet another exciting new venture. This time, it’s the launch of their own production company, Pretty Tall. They already have several projects under development both here and in LA, all starting with the word “pretty”, including Kim’s popular podcast Pretty Depressed.
“Kim’s pretty and I’m tall, so the name stuck,” smiles Tom. “Our industry is going through a transition phase, so we decided it was time to do something for ourselves and turn our dreams into reality.”
Kim adds that learning how to work together is helping the couple’s marriage become even more intimate and joyful. “But we’re ensuring some of the uncomfortable business conversations that might pop up occasionally don’t bleed into our relationship.”
Despite their continually hectic schedule, the actress confirms that growing their family is also in their thoughts. It’s about a year since she bravely revealed they’d suffered a miscarriage. They were overwhelmed by the support they received – and the important discussion that ensued. “I still feel the trauma of losing our wee girl. It makes me hesitant to put pressure on trying again right now,” reveals Kim. “We’re totally open to having children in the future, but at the moment, our energy is focused elsewhere.”
Kim is a devoted stepmum to Tom’s son Louie, eight, who is a joy to them both. She says, “I’m so lucky to have Louie and the special relationship he has with my stepdad is lovely. He’s my rock in terms of male influence. I have a beautiful relationship with my stepmum Leanne too. You can never have enough people in your life who love you.”
As Kim and Tom reflect on their magical year, both say their wedding was the absolute highlight. Tom describes it as a “perfect day” that’s led to even more love and laughter.
Kim concludes, “Tom and I are so lucky to have found each other at a stage in life when we know ourselves, and what we want and don’t want.
“I feel like I’m living life in full colour now. I love the fact that Tom and I are strapping in and doing it together. My cup is so full.”
To watch Kim and Tom’s doco, check out her YouTube channel from Friday, which is International Day of the Girl.
Text GIRL to donate $3 to support World Vision’s work to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable young women or visit worldvision.org.nz to find out more.
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