Val Lehman is an Australian actress who is best known for the role of Wentworth Detention Centre's inmate boss, or "top dog", Bea Smith in the Australian series Prisoner. She played the role for 4½ years before leaving the series in the 400th episode in 1983, with the character perishing offscreen some two years later. Lehman has appeared in many other Australian television productions, mostly in guest roles. Prior to Prisoner she acted in Bellbird (TV series) and Tandarra. After Prisoner she appeared in The Flying Doctors, Something in the Air and Blue Heelers. 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.
