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ValSmith

Valerie Kathleen Lehman AM (née Willis) (born 15 March 1943) is a Silver Logie winning Australian actress and director, best known for her role as powerful, cunning and sadistic top dog Queen Bea (Bea Smith) in the Australian TV 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. 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. Val also appeared in many other series including Neighbours and I'm A Celeb.

Val Lehman played as Bea Smith on Prisoner Cell Block H.

In 2021 Lehman was awarded an AM for services to the Performing Arts and Animals Services.

in 2022 Lehman appeared in one episode of Irreverent.

Trivia

  • Rumours of reported rifts between Val and several cast members have followed Val for years after Prisoner had ended.
  • Val revealed during her Talking Prisoner interview that she was the only cast member to receive royalties for the Prisoner DVDs as she had told the cast to negotiate it into their contracts and they didn't.
  • Val also acted as the series unofficial rep and got a better deal for the extras cast and several cast and crew.

External Links

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