In the 1970s, Leon appeared in the Hai Karate television adverts, 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".
Early life
In 1943, Leon was born in Hampstead, London, to Henry and Daphne Leon (née Ehrmann), being 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
In the 1970s and 1980s, Leon appeared in several UK national tours of plays.[citation needed]
Starting in 2010, Leon has appeared on stage throughout the UK in her one-woman show, Up Front with Valerie Leon, an on-going series of performances.[4][5][6]
Personal life
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.[7]
Paul, Louis (2008). "Valerie Leon". Tales From the Cult Film Trenches; Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp.164–171. ISBN978-0-7864-2994-3.
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