Rula Lenska facts for kids

Rula Lenska (born Roza Maria Leopoldyna Lubienski on September 30, 1947) is an English actress. She is famous for her roles in British plays and TV shows. In the United States, she was well-known for TV commercials in the 1970s and 1980s.

Rula Lenska has appeared in movies like Queen Kong. She also played Claudia Colby in the popular TV show Coronation Street. She was married to actors Brian Deacon and Dennis Waterman. Both marriages ended in divorce.

Early Life and Family History

Łubieński coat of arms

Rula Lenska was born in England in a village called Diddington. This was near a Polish resettlement camp. Her family comes from Polish nobility, which means they were part of the noble class. They used the Pomian coat of arms. Before World War II, her family owned a castle and land in Poland.

Her father, Major Count Ludwik Łubieński, worked for the Polish government before the war. He later helped General Sikorski, who was the Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile during World War II. Her mother, Countess Elżbieta Tyszkiewicz, survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp during the German occupation of Poland. Rula has two sisters, Anna and Gabriela. She went to school at the Ursuline Convent School in England.

Starting Her Acting Career

Rula Lenska got her first big role in the British TV series Rock Follies (1976). She played "Q," a member of the "Little Ladies" band. She also appeared in the sequel, Rock Follies of '77. By this time, she decided not to use her title as a Polish countess. She felt it "doesn't count" in England.

In the late 1970s, Rula Lenska became famous in the United States. This was because she appeared in commercials for Alberto VO5 hair products. Even though she was well-known in Britain, most people in the US didn't know her. The famous talk show host Johnny Carson even joked about her on The Tonight Show.

Television Roles

Rula Lenska has been in many TV shows over the years. Some of these include Special Branch, Minder, Footballers' Wives, and EastEnders. In EastEnders, she played Krystle, Frank Butcher's girlfriend.

She also appeared in the science fiction show Doctor Who in the episode "Resurrection of the Daleks". She played Mrs. Peacock in the game show Cluedo. In 1981, she starred with John Inman in the show Take a Letter, Mr. Jones.

In 1982, Rula Lenska told traditional Polish folk tales on the BBC children's show Jackanory. From 2009 to 2022, she played Claudia Colby in the popular soap opera Coronation Street. She left the show for a while to join the Calendar Girls tour. She returned to Coronation Street several times for special appearances.

Film Appearances

Rula Lenska has acted in several films. Her early movie roles included Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974) and Queen Kong (1976). In 2005, she starred in Gypo, playing a Romani refugee. She also lent her voice to the animated film Agent Crush in 2008.

Stage Performances

Rula Lenska has performed in many plays across the British Isles and other countries. She has been in several shows in London's West End, like 84, Charing Cross Road. She also often performs in pantomimes, which are fun, musical plays.

In 2005, she performed with the London Gay Men's Chorus for their Christmas show. She sang, danced, and hosted the event. In 2007, she toured in a new musical called Hot Flush.

Radio and Voice Work

On the radio, Rula Lenska played Lintilla in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. She has also hosted travel shows for BBC Radio and recorded many audiobooks.

Celebrity Big Brother

In January 2006, Rula Lenska joined the TV show Celebrity Big Brother. She said she joined because she is "a crazy Polish countess who likes a challenge." During the show, she mentioned that she had been a "Tibetan Buddhist" for many years.

She became well-known on the show for a funny moment with fellow housemate George Galloway. They did a role-play where he pretended to be a cat, and she pretended to give him milk.

Personal Life

Rula Lenska has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor Brian Deacon from 1977 to 1987. They had one daughter named Lara Parker. Her second marriage was to actor Dennis Waterman from 1987 to 1998. Both marriages ended in divorce. She and Dennis Waterman met while working on the TV show Minder.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Rula Lenska para niños

• Łubieński family
• Poles in the United Kingdom