Val Lehman
Valerie Kathleen Lehman AM (née Willis; born 15 March 1943) is an Australian actress and director, best known locally and internationally for her role as the antagonist "Top Dog" and self-styled Queen Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H).
Val Lehman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Valerie Kathleen Lehman 15 March 1943 Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Known for | Prisoner (also titled Prisoner: Cell Block H) |
| Spouse(s) | Frank Lehman,
Charles Collins
(m. 1989; div. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
Career
Lehman played antagonist Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner from 1979 to 1983. She received three Logie Awards for her performance; Best Lead Actress in a Series, Most Popular Actress in 1982 and Best Lead Actress in a Series in 1983. 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 13 May 1983, making her final appearance in episode 400.
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.
In 2016, Lehman was a contestant on the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. On 6 March 2016 she was evicted from the jungle.
Lehman had a guest role on Neighbours in December 2017 as Joanne Schwartz, which reunited her with her former Prisoner co-star Colette Mann.[1]
Filmography
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Bellbird | Unknown role | ABC | Guest, unknown episode(s) |
| 1972 | Homicide | Nurse | Seven Network | Season 9 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 1976 | Tandarra | Dinner Guest | Seven Network | Miniseries |
| 1976 | Power Without Glory | Woman in Lane | ABC | Miniseries |
| 1979 | The Dolebludgers | Mrs. Price | ABC | TV movie |
| 1979–83 | Prisoner | Bea Smith | Network Ten | Seasons 1–5 (main, 376 episodes) |
| 1981 | Prisoner in Concert | Herself / Bea Smith | Network Ten | Cast performance at Pentridge prison |
| 1981 | Outbreak of Love | Mrs. Montaubyn | ABC | Miniseries |
| 1985 | I Live with Me Dad | Marge | Nine Network | TV movie |
| 1985 | A Fortunate Life | Bert's Mother | Nine Network | Miniseries |
| 1985 | The Flying Doctors | Val Bates | Nine Network | Guest, 1 episode |
| 1986 | Army Wives | Jill's Mother | Network Ten | TV movie |
| 1994 | Law of the Land | Fran Weber | Nine Network | Season 3 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 1996 | Wilderness | Vet | ITV | Miniseries |
| 1998 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | Rose Kinsella | Nine Network | Season 2 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 1998 | Blue Heelers | Bonnie Crossing | Seven Network | Season 5 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2000 | Pizza | Bea Smith | SBS | Season 1 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2000–02 | Something in the Air | Joyce Cassidy | ABC | Seasons 1 & 3 (recurring, 5 episodes) |
| 2001 | Blue Heelers | Ivy Henderson | Seven Network | Season 8 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2002 | Secret Bridesmaids' Business | Colleen | ABC | TV movie |
| 2002 | MDA | Rita O'Reilly | ABC | Season 1 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2009 | All Saints | Maggie Brooks | Seven Network | Season 12 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2010 | City Homicide | Dorothy Denzel | Seven Network | Season 4 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2012 | The Strange Calls | Elaine | ABC2 | Miniseries |
| 2014 | Secrets & Lies | Patricia | Network Ten | Season 1 (guest, 1 episode) |
| 2017 | Neighbours | Joanne Schwarz | 10 Peach | Season 33 (guest, 2 episodes) |
| 2019 | Wentworth | New Prisoner | Fox Showcase | Season 7 (cameo, scene deleted) |
| 2020 | The End | Kelly | Showcase | Season 1 (recurring, 4 episodes) |
| 2022 | Irreverent | Delaunay | Netflix | Season 1 (Recurring, 10 episodes) |
Film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Idyll | Short film[2] | |
| 1983 | Kitty and the Bagman | Big Lil | Feature film |
| 2008 | Smitten | Violet | Short film[3] |
| 2008 | Lapse | Rose | Short film[4] |
| 2009 | Charlie & Boots | Bowling Lady Driver | Feature film |
| 2017 | The Veiled | Edith | Short film[5] |
| 2018 | Holt | Old Vyner Gillespie | Short film[6] |
| 2022 | Hitched | The Boss Lady | Short film |
Awards and Honours
| Association | Award | Year | Work | Results |
| Logie Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Series[7] | 1982 | Prisoner | Won |
| Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress[7] | 1982 | Prisoner | Won |
| Logie Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Series[7] | 1983 | Prisoner | Won |
| Australian Government | Member of the Order of Australia[8] | 2021 | Honoured |
References
- Knox, David. "Val Lehman to guest on Neighbours". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- "The Idyll (1977)". goldposter.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "Smitten (2008)". goldposter.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "Lapse (2008)". goldposter.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "The Veiled". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "holtshortfilm". instagram.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- "Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- Knox, David (26 January 2021). "Australia Day Honours 2021: Lorrae Desmond, Val Lehman but Kerry O'Brien declines". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
External links
- Val Lehman at IMDb