Val Lehman


Valerie Kathleen Lehman , known as Val Lehman, is an Australian actress and director, best known for her role as the antagonist "Top Dog" and self-styled Queen Bea Smith in the Australian TV series Prisoner, she had a guest role in a deleted scene in the series reimagining Wentworth in 2019, where her character was portrayed by Danielle Cormack.

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.

Filmography

Television

Film

Television film

Short film