Rula Lenska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rula Lenska
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Lenska in 2015
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| Born |
Roza Maria Leopoldyna Lubienski
30 September 1947 Diddington, Huntingdonshire, England
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2 |
Rula Lenska (born Roza Maria Leopoldyna Lubienski on September 30, 1947) is an English actress. She is famous for her work in British theatre and television. In the United States, she became well-known for a series of TV commercials in the 1970s.
Lenska is known for her role as Claudia Colby in the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street. A soap opera is a TV show with ongoing stories about the lives of its characters. She was married to actors Brian Deacon from 1977 to 1987 and Dennis Waterman from 1987 to 1998.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Rula Lenska was born in a village called Diddington in Huntingdonshire, England. Her family came from a noble Polish family. Before World War II, they owned a castle and a large estate in Poland. A noble family is one that historically had a high social rank and often a special title, like count or countess.
Her father, Major Ludwik Łubieński, was an important figure. He worked for the Polish government before the war. During World War II, he was an assistant to General Sikorski, the leader of the Polish Government in Exile. After the war, he worked for Radio Free Europe, a radio station that broadcast news to countries in Eastern Europe.
Lenska's mother, Countess Elżbieta Tyszkiewicz, had a difficult time during the war. She and her own mother were captured and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany, but they both survived. Lenska has two sisters, Anna and Gabriela. She went to school at the Ursuline Convent School in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent.
Career Beginnings
Lenska's first big role was in the British TV series Rock Follies in 1976. She played a band member named "Q." The show was so popular that a sequel, Rock Follies of '77, was made the next year. Around this time, she decided not to use her Polish title of "Countess."
In the late 1970s, Lenska appeared in TV commercials for Alberto VO5 hair products in the United States. Even though she wasn't famous in America yet, the commercials acted as if she was. This made people curious. The famous TV host Johnny Carson even joked on his show, "Who the hell is Rula Lenska?"
This led to a funny moment on a TV program called The Big Show. The comedian Steve Allen was pretending to be her in a sketch. In a surprise appearance, the real Rula Lenska walked onto the set, said, "I'm Rula Lenska and you're not!" and pushed him into a swimming pool.
Television Roles
Lenska has appeared in many popular TV shows over the years. She played Krystle, the girlfriend of Frank Butcher, in a special episode of EastEnders in 2002. She also had a role in the science-fiction series Doctor Who in the story Resurrection of the Daleks.
Some of her other well-known TV appearances include:
- Minder
- Robin of Sherwood
- One Foot in the Grave
- Footballers' Wives
- Casualty
In 1982, she told traditional Polish folk tales on the BBC children's show Jackanory.
From 2009, Lenska became famous to a new generation of fans as Claudia Colby in Coronation Street. She played the character, an old friend of Audrey Roberts, until 2011. She returned to the show in 2018 and has made several appearances since then.
Film and Stage Career
Lenska has acted in several movies, including the comedy Queen Kong (1976), which was a parody of the famous King Kong movie. She also starred in the independent British film Jack Says (2008).
Besides screen acting, Lenska has a successful career in theatre. She has toured in many plays across the United Kingdom and other countries. She has also appeared in many pantomimes, which are fun, musical comedy plays often performed during the Christmas season.
Voice Work and Radio
Lenska has a distinctive voice and has used it for radio and voice acting. She played the character Lintilla and her clones in the radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. She has also recorded many audiobooks, bringing stories to life for listeners.
Personal Life
Rula Lenska has been married twice. Her first husband was actor Brian Deacon, and they have a daughter named Lara. Her second marriage was to actor Dennis Waterman, whom she met on the set of the TV show Minder. Both of her marriages ended in divorce.
Notable Roles
Here are some of Rula Lenska's most famous roles in film and television.
Film
- Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974) - Louise
- Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975) - Receptionist
- Queen Kong (1976) - Luce Habit
- Gypo (2005) - Irina
- Jack Says (2008) - Garvey
- Agent Crush (2008) - Olga Thyburn (Voice role)
Television
- Rock Follies (1976) - Nancy "Q" Cunard de Longchamps
- Take a Letter Mr. Jones (1981) - Joan Warner
- Minder (1982, 1985, 1989) - Various roles
- Doctor Who (1984) - Styles in Resurrection of the Daleks
- Robin of Sherwood (1984) - Morgwyn of Ravenscar
- Cluedo (1991) - Mrs. Peacock
- EastEnders (2002) - Krystal
- Footballers' Wives (2005) - Allana
- Coronation Street (2009–2011, 2018–2022) - Claudia Colby
- Inside No. 9 (2016) - Celia Devonshire
See also
In Spanish: Rula Lenska para niños
- Łubieński family
- Poles in the United Kingdom
