Leslie Ash

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Leslie Ash
Born	February 19, 1960 (1960-02-19) (age 48) Clapham, London, England
Spouse(s)	Lee Chapman

Leslie Ash (born 19 February 1960 in Clapham, London) is an English actress, best known for her role in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Her book My Life Behaving Badly: The Autobiography was published in 2007.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 2.1 Collagen implants 2.2 Health problems 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

The sister of Hot Gossip dancer Debbie Ash, Leslie first appeared on TV in 1964 at the age of four asking "Mummy, why are your hands so soft?" in an advertisement for the washing-up product Fairy Liquid.

She was educated at the independent Italia Conti Academy stage school, and then started a career as a fashion model.

Having appeared in the 1978 soft porn comedy "Rosie Dixon, Night Nurse",^[1] her first major film role was playing the romantic lead in Quadrophenia in 1979. In 1983 she appeared opposite Nicky Henson as Nancy in the ITV situation comedy The Happy Apple playing a secretary whose opinions successfully reflected public opinion. She then played a regular role in crime series C.A.T.S. Eyes.

Ash's most famous role was playing Neil Morrissey's romantic interest Deborah (Debs) in the situation comedy Men Behaving Badly. This, after six series, led to other options, including the BBC's Mersey Beat and several other serious dramatic roles.

More recently, Leslie has appeared in BBC Radio 4's darkly comic radio series, Vent, alongside Neil Pearson, Fiona Allen and Josie Lawrence.

[edit] Personal life

Ash is married to former footballer Lee Chapman.

[edit] Collagen implants

In 2003 she had a medical accident when her collagen lip implants went wrong and she was left with what the tabloids dubbed a "trout pout". ^[2] During this time Ash starred in a series of advertisements for the DIY chain Homebase (again, with Neil Morrissey) and she also starred in the BBC police drama Mersey Beat, which evoked further ridicule from the media about her appearance. ^[3] Ash has since spoken out about the press ridicule she has received as a result of her botched implants, commenting: "If I'd lost a leg in a car crash, people wouldn't have felt able to take the mickey out of me so mercilessly....People don't laugh at Heather Mills because she lost a leg."^[4]

[edit] Health problems

Ash contracted toxoplasmosis two months into her pregnancy in France, where toxoplasmosis is extremely common. She told the BBC that she wished to raise awareness of this as an issue in Britain.^[5]

Ash was originally hospitalised at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in April 2004 after suffering two cracked ribs, saying she fell off her bed on to a table during a love-making session with her husband.^[6]

Ash was discharged after only a few days, but was readmitted after losing all feeling in her legs. In June 2004 while she was still in hospital, it was announced that a staphylococcus aureus infection may have rendered her permanently unable to walk.^[7]

In late August Ash was seen taking some steps with the assistance of crutches. Ash appeared on the British Soap Awards in May 2006, walking unaided, but still clearly impaired two years after her illness.

In January 2007 Ash confirmed she was suing the hospital. Papers lodged at the High Court asserted that Ash would never return to active TV roles. The hospital admitted breach of duty over part of her treatment but denied responsibility for the extent of her injuries^[8] and in January 2008 paid out a record £5m compensation payout in an out of court settlement. Steve Walker, chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority, said the payout set a new record for compensation following a hospital-acquired infection.^[9]

Ash now calls for cleaner hospitals as a result of her experiences and regularly addresses audiences of healthcare officials on the subject.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BBC Drama Faces - Leslie Ash
• Leslie Ash at the Internet Movie Database