Lizzie's alter ego

Crystal Hunt of Clearwater isn't a spoiled, mean little rich girl. But she plays one on TV.

CLEARWATER - For her 16th birthday, Crystal Hunt picked out a pearl white, 2001 Lexus GS 430.

In the two years since, she has loaded it with a custom sound system, a PlayStation in the glove compartment and four television monitors - two on headrests, one on the dash, and one in the rearview mirror.

One might say that her real life appears to mirror the character she plays on the Guiding Light soap opera: the beautiful rich girl who has it all.

But there are differences. The character, Lizzie Spaulding, is a villainous teen obsessed with wreaking havoc. Crystal, on the other hand, is the disciplined youngest daughter of an successful Clearwater family, who has been working in front of a camera since age 4.

Crystal first appeared on the soap on Feb. 25. She appears on an episode at 3 p.m. today on WTSP-Ch. 10, as well as several episodes scheduled throughout May.

"I'm spoiled and she's spoiled, too," the 18-year-old said, laughing.

The Lexus, a race car, two water scooters and a 21-foot Yamaha jet boat are all presents from her parents Nada and Clark Hunt, who own Clark Hunt Construction in Clearwater.

"Spoiled but with discipline," adds Mrs. Hunt. "We don't just hand her these things, she has to meet us half way. She has to keep her grades up and follow guidelines."

Crystal said she has never attended one high school party, touched drugs, been involved in an accident or gotten a speeding ticket.

"I'd rather go to a car show or go Jet-Skiing than get wasted at a party," she said. She hardly ever watches TV and spends what little free time she has surfing, Jet-Skiing, or flying her uncle's helicopter. She said she is 12 hours away from obtaining a pilot's license.

She also works with Footprints Ministry, a program that collects shoes for homeless and foster children and other charities. She attends the Countryside Cathedral Church of God when she's home.

Crystal, who started her acting career with TV commercials, attended private Christian schools until high school, when she was accepted into Palm Harbor University High School's medical magnet program. She has a B average and scored 1400 on her SAT.

Still, she will not be allowed to attend senior prom or graduate with her class because she missed her second semester, when she took the role on Guiding Light. She received her diploma from an online school.

"There are ups and downs to the business," Crystal said.

The ups are substantial: This weekend, she will attend the Marco Island Film Festival; on May 16, she will sit with her fellow cast members at the Emmy Awards. She and her mother fly to their New York apartment nearly every week and usually come home for weekends.

"I love my life, I have a great life," she said. "I wouldn't give it up for the world."

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