At age 16, she left school to train with the Ballet Rambert. Within a year, she became part of a French cabaret group that traveled the world. Upon returning to England, she joined Lionel Blair's dance troupe, and then turned to acting, appearing with such comedians as Morecambe and Wise, Dick Emery, Spike Milligan (in his Q series), Frankie Howerd, Tommy Cooper and, in particular, Benny Hill. Her work with Hill earned her the nickname 'The Sexiest Stooge'. Other television appearances included The Golden Shot, The Protectors and Masterspy (as Miss Moneypacker).
In 1970, she made her film debut in John Cassavetes's Husbands, in which she played the role of Pearl Billingham. Other films included Michael Apted's Triple Echo (1972) and the Amicus production Madhouse (1974).
She began to work as a Foley artist in the 1970s between acting jobs, and in a 1976 magazine interview attributed her sense of timing in that field to her training as a dancer. Wright stood in as the hostess on Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game for several weeks when regular hostess Anthea Redfern was absent on maternity leave. By the late 1980s, she had switched completely to Foley work, including such films as My Left Foot (1989), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), the James Bond movie Die Another Day (2002), and The Phantom of the Opera (2004) based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Jenny Lee-Wright made the transformation from actress to Foley Artist during the late 1980's.
Filmography
Actress
1987
The Little and Large Show (TV Series)
- Episode #7.3 (1987) - (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
1986
Mind Your Language (TV Series) as
Maria Papandrious
- End of Term (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Teacher's Pet (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- The First Lady (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Everybody's Out (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Wedding Fever (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- A Rash Decision (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Mama Mia (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Ghoulies and Ghosties (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Time and Tide (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Fifty Years On (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Easy Come Easy Go (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Too Many Cooks (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Never Say Die (1986) - Maria Papandrious (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
1985
Video Spotlight (Video) as
Various characters (uncredited)
1985
The Funny Side (TV Series)
- Episode #1.6 (1985)
- Episode #1.5 (1985)
- Episode #1.4 (1985)
- Episode #1.3 (1985)
- Episode #1.2 (1985)
- Episode #1.1 (1985)
1980
The Benny Hill Show (TV Series) as
Various Roles / Various Characters
- Carmen (1985) - Various Roles (uncredited)
- Show 37 (1980) - Various Characters
1982
The Jim Davidson Show (TV Series)
- Episode #4.1 (1982)
1981
Benny Hill's Video Revue (Video)
1979
Minder (TV Series) as
Frankie
- A Tethered Goat (1979) - Frankie (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
1979
Morecambe and Wise at the BBC (TV Series) as
Various
- Episode dated 21 March 1979 (1979) - Various
- Episode dated 28 February 1979 (1979) - Various
1978
Bernie (TV Series)
- Episode #1.6 (1978)
1978
The Professionals (TV Series) as
Lorna
- The Rack (1978) - Lorna
1978
Premiere (TV Series) as
Blonde
- Something's Wrong (1978) - Blonde
1977
Mike Yarwood in Persons (TV Series) as
Girl in Fort / Local Union Negotiator / Lil
- Episode #2.2 (1978) - Girl in Fort (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show 1977 (1977) - Local Union Negotiator (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
- Episode #1.5 (1977) - Lil (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
1968
The Morecambe & Wise Show (TV Series) as
Various Roles / Ticket Seller / Bank Customer / ...