Val Lehman
Encyclopedia
Val Lehman is an Australian actress, best known for her role as top dog Bea Smith in the Australian series Prisoner
(aka Prisoner:Cell Block H). She played the role for over four years before leaving the series in the 400th episode in 1983.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.Lehman was the undisputed star of the programme and it is generally felt by fans that the show lost its heart when she left although producers tried to lure her back to the series many times without success. Her real life daughter, Cassandra Lehman, portrayed Bea Smith's drug-addicted daughter, Debbie.
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
and All Saints
.
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. She successfully spearheaded the campaign by Prisoner fans over many years, to have Prisoner released on DVD in its entirety because she found her source of income low when 'guest' appearances on Blue Heelers dried up. And she was in city homicide season 4.
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
(aka Prisoner:Cell Block H). She played the role for over four years before leaving the series in the 400th episode in 1983.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.Lehman was the undisputed star of the programme and it is generally felt by fans that the show lost its heart when she left although producers tried to lure her back to the series many times without success. Her real life daughter, Cassandra Lehman, portrayed Bea Smith's drug-addicted daughter, Debbie.
Lehman has appeared in many other Australian television productions, mostly in guest roles. Prior to Prisoner she acted in the television series Bellbird
Bellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
and Tandarra
Tandarra
Tandarra was the follow-up Australian television series to Cash and Company , set during the Victorian gold rush period of the 1850s...
. After Prisoner she appeared in The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
, Army Wives, Something in the Air, Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
and All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
.
Lehman lived in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, 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. She successfully spearheaded the campaign by Prisoner fans over many years, to have Prisoner released on DVD in its entirety because she found her source of income low when 'guest' appearances on Blue Heelers dried up. And she was in city homicide season 4.