Val Lehman

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".

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

Awards and honours Association Award Year Work Results Logie Awards Best Lead Actress in a Series 1982Prisoner Logie Awards Most Popular Actress 2021