Val Lehman
| Val Lehman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Valerie Kathleen Willis 15 March 1943 Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) | 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 highly intelligent, powerful, cunning and protagonist 'Top Dog' Queen Bea (Bea Smith) in the Australian TV series Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H), overseas. She played the role for over four and a half years before growing tired of portraying such a demanding part, and resigned from the series. Her final appearance was during the 400th episode in 1983, with a final showdown with corrupt prison officer, Joan Ferguson, towards the end of the fifth season. Val 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. 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. The character of Bea Smith remains as one of the most iconic and popular characters in Australian television history, both in its domestic market and overseas, especially in the United Kingdom. In 2016, Ms. 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.
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.
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