Valerie Kathleen Lehman (née Willis; born 15 March 1943) is an Australian actress and director, best known locally and internationally for her role as the protagonist "Top Dog" and self-styled Queen Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H) for the first five series from 1979 until 1983 for 356 episodes.
Honours and awards In 2021 she was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) "for significant service to the performing arts and wildlife conservation".
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. She recorded her final scenes on 13 May 1983 and made her final appearance in episode 400.
Career 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.
In 2018, Lehman joined former Prisoner co-stars Fiona Spence and Colette Mann for a cameo appearance in the series seven finale of Wentworth (TV series), but the cameo scene was scrapped when the series was renewed for a further 20 episodes.
Filmography
Television Title Year Role Network Notes 1967 Bellbird Guest appearance ABC TV series 1972 Homicide Nurse Seven Network TV series, Season 9, 1 episode 1976 Tandarra Dinner Guest Seven Network TV series, 1 episode 1976 Power Without Glory Woman in Lane ABC TV miniseries 1979–1983 Prisoner Bea Smith Network Ten TV series, Seasons 1–5, 376 episodes 1981 Prisoner in Concert Herself / Bea Smith Network Ten TV special (Cast performance at Pentridge prison) 1981 Outbreak of Love Mrs. Montaubyn ABC TV miniseries 1983 Parkinson In Australia Guest Network 10 TV series, 1 episode 1985 The Ernie Sigley Show Guest Nine Network TV series, 1 episode 1985 A Fortunate Life Bert's Mother Nine Network TV miniseries 1986 The Flying Doctors Val Bates Nine Network TV miniseries, 1 episode 1994 Ken Dodd: An Audience with Ken Dodd Audience member (uncredited) TV special UK 1994 Law of the Land Fran Weber Nine Network TV series, Season 3, 1 episode 1996 Wilderness Vet ITV TV miniseries UK 1998 Good Guys, Bad Guys Rose Kinsella Nine Network TV series, Season 2, 1 episode 1998; 2001 Blue Heelers Bonnie Crossing Seven Network TV series, Season 5, 1 episode 2000 Pizza Bea Smith SBS TV series, season 1, 1 episode 2000–2002 Something in the Air Joyce Cassidy ABC Seasons 1 & 3, 5 episodes 2001 Blue Heelers Ivy Henderson Seven Network TV series, Season 8, 1 episode 2002 MDA Rita O'Reilly ABC TV series, Season 1, 1 episode 2009 All Saints Maggie Brooks Seven Network TV series, Season 12, 1 episode 2010 City Homicide Dorothy Denzel Seven Network TV series, Season 4, 1 episode 2012 The Strange Calls Elaine ABC2 TV miniseries, 1 episode 2014 Secrets & Lies Patricia Network Ten TV series, Season 1, 1 episode 2017 Neighbours Joanne Schwarz 10 Peach TV series, Season 33, 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 Delaney Netflix TV series, Season 1, 10 episodes
Film Title Year Role Notes 1977 The Idyll Short film 1979 The Dolebludgers Mrs. Price TV movie 1979 The Franky Doyle Story Bea Smith TV movie 1982 Kitty and the Bagman Big Lil Feature film 1985 I Live with Me Dad Marge TV movie 1987 Army Wives Jill's Mother TV movie 2002 Secret Bridesmaids' Business Colleen TV movie 2008 Smitten Violet Short film 2008 Lapse Rose Short film 2009 Charlie & Boots Bowling Lady Driver Feature film 2017 The Veiled Edith Short film 2018 Holt Old Vyner Gillespie Short film 2022 The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay Wendy Feature film 2022 Hitched The Boss Lady Short film
Other appearances +YearTitleRoleNotes2016I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!ContestantNetwork TenTV series, 31 episodesAll Star Family FeudContestantNetwork TenTV series, 1 episode20099am with David & KimGuest (with Amanda Muggleton & Peta Toppano)Network TenTV series, 1 episode2008What a YearHerselfNine NetworkTV series, 1 episode200720 to 1HerselfNine NetworkTV series, 1 episodeBert's Family FeudContestantNine NetworkTV series, 1 episode2006TemptationContestant with Colette MannNine NetworkTV series, 1 episodeWhere Are They Now?Guest (with Prisoner cast: Peta Toppano, Amanda Muggleton, Carol Burns & Maggie Kirkpatrick)Seven NetworkTV series, 1 episode2005After They Were FamousGuestTV series UK, 1 episode2003The SalonHerselfTV series UK, 1 episode2002The Best of Aussie Cop ShowsHerselfSeven NetworkTV special2001I Love the 1980'sHerselfTV series UK1998The Big BreakfastHerselfTV series UK1998DeniseHerselfSeven NetworkTV series, 1 episode1997Where Are They Now?Guest (with Carol Burns, Gerard Maguire, Lynne Hamilton & Lynda Stoner)Seven NetworkTV series, 1 episode199640 Years of TV Stars... Then and NowHerselfNine networkTV special1995Burke's BackyardCelebrity GardenerNine networkTV series, 1 episode1995Sale of the Century: Battle of the TV ClassicsGuestNine networkTV series, 1 episode1991Ring My BellGuestTV series UK1990The Great EscapeGuestVideo UK1989TV AMGuest (with Carol Burns & Fiona Spence)BBC1TV series UK, 1 episode1989In Melbourne TodayGuest - HerselfNine networkTV series, 1 episode1989The Bert Newton ShowGuest - Herself with Bruce Ruxton, Sings "Flottsam Jettsam" (from 'Bea') with Jon FinlaysonSeven NetworkTV series, 1 episode1986Kids 21st Birthday Channel Ten TelethonGuest - Herself as taped appearance with Prisoner cast: Colette Mann, Elspeth Ballantyne, Glenda Linscott & Jane CliftonTV special
Awards and honours Association Award Year Work Results Logie Awards Best Lead Actress in a Series 1982Prisoner Logie Awards Most Popular Actress 1982 Logie Awards Best Lead Actress in a Series 1983 Prisoner Australian Government Member of the Order of Australia 2021
References
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