WITH a reaction speed that would have made Bruce Lee proud, Rupert Murdoch’s wife became an unlikely hero when she leapt to the defence of her husband as he gave evidence in parliament this week.

In a scene witnessed by millions around the world, the 42-year-old former volleyball champion sprang from her chair to foil an assailant who tried to throw a foam-filled plate in the media mogul’s face.

Although the protester, a publicity seeking anarchist called Jonnie Marbles, had managed to slip through tight security, he wasn’t able to escape a right hook from Murdoch’s secret weapon aka Wendi Deng.

According to reports, the Yale Business School graduate sat on the table afterwards calmly cleaning the elderly tycoon’s foam-flecked face.

She had been keeping a close eye on her husband, who is 38 years her senior, throughout the hearing as he answered questions from MPs over the phone hacking scandal that has engulfed his business empire.

Sitting directly behind him in a fuchsia pink jacket, she occasionally she leant forward to gently touch his shoulder in a bid to keep him in check.

But her stand by your man moment managed to do more for Murdoch’s public image than all his team of highly paid advisors put together.

Ruth Oliver, the Echo’s Faith Matters correspondent, said Mr Murdoch is lucky to have such a young, capable wife.

“I know some women have said that they would have put a pie in their husband’s face if he’d done what Mr Murdoch is alleged to have done but I do think it is important for a wife to stand by her man,” she said.

Diana Crosswell, a local therapist who specialises in energy healing and reflexology, agreed: “There is clearly nothing wrong with her reflexes. “She was very quick off the mark which is just as well as he was supposed to being protected.”

Hotelier Tara Howard, co-founder of the Lily Langtry Women In Business Awards said: “Behind every successful man is a woman. “Go for it girl – I bet she puts Rupert in his place too! – I wonder how many of us would attack (or applaud) someone throwing a pie in our husband’s face!”

But one local mum, who didn’t want to be identified, said it isn’t always easy standing by your man when his business is in trouble.

“When my husband’s business collapsed I had people banging on the door demanding money. It did put a strain on our marriage at the time but we came through it and our relationship is now stronger than ever.”