Val Lehman
 |
Val Lehman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Valerie Kathleen Willis 15 March 1943 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse | Charles Collins (10 June 1989–2005, divorced) |
| Children | Cassandra, Joanne and Jason Lehman |
Valerie Kathleen Lehman (née Willis) (born 15 March 1943), known as Val Lehman, is an Australian actress and director, best known for her role as the protagonist 'Top Dog' Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H), overseas. Lehman received three Logies for her performance (Best Lead Actress in a Series) and (Most Popular Actress) in 1982 and (Best Lead Actress in a Series in 1983. She was twice nominated for the Gold Logie. Val Lehman decided to leave the series towards the end of season five after becoming tired with playing the character, and she recorded her final scenes on Friday 13th May 1983, making her final appearance in episode 400. The final episode for the 1983 season was episode 416.
Her real life daughter, Cassandra Lehman portrayed Bea Smith's drug-addicted daughter, Debbie. Her other daughter, Joanne also briefly appeared in Prisoner, during the first year of the series.
Ms. Lehman lived in Ipswich, Suffolk, England for much of the 1990s after being initially invited to the UK for personal appearances by the Prisoner: Cell Block H fan club.
In 2016, Val Lehman was a contestant on the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. On Sunday 6th March 2016 she was evicted from the jungle.
Television roles
Val Lehman has appeared in many other Australian television productions, mostly in guest roles. Prior to Prisoner she acted in the television series Bellbird and Tandarra. After Prisoner she appeared in The Flying Doctors, Army Wives, Something in the Air, Blue Heelers, All Saints and City Homicide.
Filmography
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellbird | 1967 | Guest role; unknown episodes | |
| Homicide | 1972 | Nurse | Episode "There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth" |
| Tandarra | 1976 | Dinner Guest | Season 1, episode 1 "Pilot" |
| Power Without Glory | Unknown episodes | ||
| Outbreak of Love | 1981 | Mrs. Montaubyn | ABC mini-series |
| Prisoner | 1979–83 | Bea Smith | Main role; seasons 1–5; 376 episodes Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (1982) Logie Award for Best Lead Actress in a Series (1982) Logie Award for Best Lead Actress in a Series (1983) Also appeared in Prisoner in Concert (1981 performer & writer) Appeared in Prisoner behind-the-scenes special The Great Escape (1990 video special) Internationally re-titled as Prisoner: Cell Block H and "Caged Woman" |
| A Fortunate Life | 1985 | Bert's Mother | Nine Network mini-series Episode 3 "Journey (1980-1914)" |
| The Flying Doctors | 1986 | Val Bates | Season 1, episode 21 "Fearless Frank" |
| Law of the Land | 1994 | Fran Weber | Season 3, episode 12 "Line of Duty" |
| Wilderness | 1996 | Vet | Mini-series |
| Good Guys, Bad Guys | 1998 | Rose Kinsella | Season 2, episode 9 "100% Proof" |
| Blue Heelers | Bonnie Crossing | Season 5, episode 15 "A Bit of a Biff" | |
| Pizza | 2000 | Bea Smith | Season 1, episode 9 "Gambling Pizza" |
| Blue Heelers | 2001 | Ivy Henderson | Season 8, episode 7 "The Fine Print" |
| Something in the Air | 2000–02 | Joyce Cassidy | Season 1, episode 91 "Extenuating Circumstances" Season 1, episode 92 "Lust & Consequence" Season 3, episode 37 "Every Baby Needs a Da-Da-Daddy" Season 3, episode 38 "Playing the Game" Season 3, episode 40 "Take Your Pride and Swallow" |
| MDA | 2002 | Rita O'Reilly | Season 1, episode 10 "Quid Pro Quo" |
| All Saints | 2009 | Maggie Brooks | Season 12, episode 17 "Bodies in Motion" |
| City Homicide | 2010 | Dorothy Denzel | Season 4, episode 2 "Good Cop/Bad Cop" |
| The Strange Calls" | 2012 | Elaine | Season 1, episode 4 "Napoleon" |
| Secrets & Lies | 2014 | Patricia | Season 1, episode 4 |
| I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | 2016 | Celebrity | Season 2, episode 1-27 |
Film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitty and the Bagman | 1983 | Big Lil | Prisoner cast members Colette Mann, Gerard Maguire and Kylie Foster also appear |
| Charlie & Boots | 2009 | Bowls Lady | With Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson |
Television film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dolebludgers | 1979 | Mrs. Price | ABC television film |
| I Live with Me Dad | 1985 | Marge | Nine Network television film |
| Army Wives | 1987 | Jill's Mother | Network Ten television film |
| Secret Bridesmaids' Business | 2002 | Colleen | ABC television film |
Short film
| Title | Year | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Idyll | 1977 | 10 minutes | |
| Smitten | 2008 | Violet | 7 minutes |
| Lapse | Rose | 11 minutes | |
| Holt | 2017 | Vyner Gillespie | 15 minutes |
External links
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