Rula Lenska

Biography / Gallery

Ruka Lenska signed memorabilia @ eBay UK (direct link)

Biography

Rula Lenska (born Countess Roza-Maria Leopoldyna Lubienska, 30 September 1947, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, UK) is a British actress of Polish aristocratic descent. Standing at 5′ 9″, she has remained instantly recognisable throughout her long career thanks to her height, flame-red hair, and her warm, sophisticated voice.

Breakthrough

Her breakthrough came in the mid-1970s with the cult UK television musical drama Rock Follies, in which she played “Q,” one of the members of the fictional all-female rock group The Little Ladies. The success of the show made her a household name.

Around the same period she also became known internationally for a series of flamboyant Alberto VO5 hair product commercials, which aired in both the UK and the United States, cementing her pop-culture visibility.

Career

Lenska has worked extensively across film, stage and television. Her TV credits include roles in Doctor Who, EastEnders, One Foot in the Grave, To the Manor Born, Minder, Footballers' Wives, and more recently Coronation Street, where she played the stylish and sharp-tongued Claudia Colby.

Her film work includes titles such as Queen Kong (1976), Paradise Grove (2003), and later independent films. In 2008 she appeared in the British neo-noir Jack Says, in a role very different from anything she had previously played.

Celebrity Big Brother

Lenska re-entered mainstream public attention with her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother. She was the third housemate to be voted out, but her participation produced some of the most memorable moments in the show’s history — particularly the now-infamous task in which she pretended to own a cat, while politician George Galloway crawled around acting as the cat. She later said that the money — £50,000 — was a major factor in her decision to join the show, as acting roles had become less frequent.

Personal Life

She has been married twice:

Brian Deacon (married 4 June 1977 – divorced)
Dennis Waterman (married 3 January 1987 – divorced 31 March 1998); they have one child together.

Later Career

Lenska has continued acting into her seventies. She has returned to the stage with energy, including touring productions such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and continues to appear in TV roles and public events. She is also known for her work supporting wildlife and animal-welfare causes.

Sex Symbol Status

Now into her 70s, Rula Lenska has often been described as one of the most striking and sensual actresses on British television. Her tall frame, distinctive red hair and elegant voice give her a screen presence reminiscent of classic Hollywood icons.