Valerie Leon

British actress (born 1943)

Valerie Therese Leon (born 12 November 1943) is an English actress and model who has had roles in many film and television productions, including six of the Carry On film series and two James Bond films, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Never Say Never Again (1983) alongside Roger Moore and Sean Connery, respectively. She also had roles in high profile films such as The Italian Job (1969), The Wild Geese (1978) and Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) and had a starring role in the Hammer horror film Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971). Leon also appeared in the Hai Karate television adverts in the 1970s which gained her substantial publicity. She also became known globally as a sex symbol due to her glamorous looks and attractive figure, and was often referred to as the "English Raquel Welch".

Leon was born in Hampstead, London in 1943 to Henry and Daphne Leon (née Ehrmann) and is the eldest of four children. Her father was a director of a textile company, and her mother, who trained at RADA, ended her acting career to become a full time mother. After attending the Channing School for Girls, Leon attended the College for Distributive Trades before moving to Paris to become an au pair girl. She did a spell of modelling before returning to England.

Leon's career began as a trainee fashion buyer at Harrods. In April 1965, Leon went to an audition which led to her becoming a chorus girl in a touring production of The Belle of New York. When the tour in Britain was cancelled after some weeks, Valerie contacted Central Casting and started to work as an extra in movies her first film was That Riviera Touch (1966) starring Morecambe and Wise, for which she was hired as a girl in bikini. Around the same time, she appeared with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End. Leon appeared in six films of the Carry On series: Carry On Up The Khyber (1968), Carry On Camping (1969), Carry On Again Doctor (1969), Carry On Up the Jungle (1970), Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry On Girls (1973), and appeared in two James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as a Hotel Receptionist and as Lady in Bahamas in Never Say Never Again (1983). Other film appearances include Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Wild Geese (both 1978), The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970, as the secretary Tanya), a hotel receptionist in The Italian Job (1969), and a callgirl in No Sex Please, We're British (1973). The Hammer horror film Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971) gave Leon a dual starring role, as a reincarnated Egyptian queen. Leon's TV credits include The Saint, Randall and Hopkirk, Up Pompeii!, The Avengers, Space: 1999, The Persuaders, Last of the Summer Wine and the 1968 version of Johnny Speight's provocative comedy drama If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have To Invent Them as a nurse. From 1969 to 1976, Leon played the woman driven wild by a man wearing Hai Karate aftershave in a highly successful series of British commercials for the product. Leon parodied her role in The Goodies episode "It Might as Well Be String" by attacking Tim Brooke Taylor. She appeared in several UK national tours of plays in the 1970s and 80s, and more recently has appeared on stage throughout the UK in her one woman show, Up Front with Valerie Leon.

Leon was married to the television producer Michael Mills from 1974 until his death in 1988. The couple had two children: a son, Leon, born in 1975 and a daughter, Merope, born in 1977.

Year Title Role Notes1967 The Saint Therese Episode: "To Kill a Saint"1967 The Baron Film Actress Episode: "Countdown"1968 If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have to Invent Them Senior Nurse TV film1968 The Avengers Betty Episode: "Whoever Shot Poor George Oblique Stroke XR40? "1969 Galton and Simpson Comedy Girl Episode: "Friends in High Places"1969 Hark at Barker Lady on Beach Episode: "Rustless and the Solar System"1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Kay Episode: "That's How Murder Snowballs"1970 Up Pompeii! Daili Episode: "The Senator and the Asp"1970 The Des O'Connor Show Various 3 episodes1971 Misleading Cases Rowena Stuke Episode: "The Sitting Bird"1971 The Persuaders! Space Queen Episode: "The Long Goodbye"1972 The Organization Prudence Episode: "The Long Goodbye"1972 Scoop Miss Barton Episode: "The Stitch Service"1972 My Wife Next Door Laura Episode: "Dream Girl"1972 Carry On Christmas Serving Wench TV film1973 The Tarbuck Follies Various TV film1973 The Train Now Standing Brenda Episode: "A Night to Remember"1973 Nobody Is Norman Wisdom Sylvia Episode: #1.6 1973 Bowler Miss Ibbotson Episode: "Bowler's Analysis"1973 Doctor in Charge Miss Wedderburn Episode: "In Place of Strife"1974 Special Branch Juanita Wayne Episode: "Sounds Sinister"1974 The Jimmy Tarbuck Show Various 1975 Space: 1999 Thule Girl Episode: "Death's Other Dominion"1976 The Goodies The Seductress Episode: "It Might as Well Be String"1977 Mike Yarwood in Persons Rose Episode: #1.4 1977 The Morecambe & Wise Show Various Episode: "1977 Christmas Show"1978 Whodunnit? Virginia Episode: "A Dead Cert"1978 The Kenny Everett Video Cassette Manicurist Episode: "#1.1"1978 Happy Ever After Fiona Episode: "The More We Are Together"1978 Rings on Their Fingers Cathie Episode: "Lead Me to the Altar"1979 Morecambe and Wise at the BBC Various Episode: "28 February 1979"1979 The Dawson Watch Various Episode: "The Family"1980, 1984 Kelly Monteith Various 2 episodes1982 Strangers Jeanette Episode: "A Swift and Evil Rozzer"1983 Let There Be Love Yolanda Episode: "Spilling the Beans"1991 Roy's Raiders Lola Courtney Episode: #1.42006 Last of the Summer Wine DW Cheetham Episode: "Who's That Merry Man with Billy, Then? "2007 The Green Green Grass Katia's Mother Episode: "Lust in Translation"