# Belinda Lang

Belinda Lucy Lange Fraser (born 23 December 1953), known professionally as Belinda Lang, is an English actress. She is perhpas best known for her starring roles in three sitcoms, as Kate in the BBC sitcom Dear John, Liza in the ITV sitcom Second Thoughts (1991–94), and Bill Porter in the BBC sitcom 2point4 Children (1991–99). Her theatre credits include London productions of the Noël Coward plays, Present Laughter (1981), Blithe Spirit (1997), and Hay Fever (2006). Her radio/audio credits include voicing narrator Madeleine in the podcast Wooden Overcoats.

## Early life

Lang was born in the Marylebone district in West London, in 1953, the daughter of actors Jeremy Hawk and Joan Heal.

## Career
### Television

After a small part as 'Girl in Bath' in Play for Today in 1980, she appeared, later that year as Beth in the TV adaptation of To Serve Them All My Days. Following this, she had several one-off appearances and small parts until her breakthrough role as Kate in Dear John (1986-1987). Following this she played Martha Brett in The Bretts (1987–1988), during which she acted alongside her future husband, Hugh Fraser. Around the same time, she replaced Phyllis Logan in the role as Sheila Walsh in Bust. Lang also had a lead part in the television series Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, in which she played the artist Agatha Troy between 1990 and 1994.
In 1991, she took a lead role in 2point4 Children alongside Gary Olsen. The sitcom ran for eight series, ending in 1999.
In 2000, she appeared as Christine Hamilton in the television film Justice in Wonderland.
Since 2point4 Children, Lang has rarely appeared on television, instead taking on more stage work. She has, however, made guest appearances in several programmes, including playing the ill-fated business woman, Elspeth Inkpen-Thomas, in Midsomer Murders, alongside John Nettles and television presenter Quinnie Dorrell in "The Gongoozlers", a 2004 episode of the murder mystery series Rosemary and Thyme. She has also appeared in two episodes of the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. In 2009, she made a brief return to sitcom, playing Margot in an episode of BBC sitcom My Family, and then in 2014 playing Marina Fairchild in Citizen Khan, another BBC series.
In 2022, she appeared as landlady Mrs Clam in Sister Boniface Mysteries in a recurring role.

### Radio

In 1988, Lang appeared in the BBC Radio 4 play Hard of Hearing opposite Graham Blockey. She took part in Stilgoe's Around, also broadcast on Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2. Second Thoughts was based on a radio programme originally broadcast on Radio 4. From 2015 to 2022, a hiatus for production required due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she voiced the anthropomorphic mouse and narrator Madeleine in the sitcom audio podcast Wooden Overcoats.

### Theatre

Lang has taken on many stage roles. She is part of the cast of the touring play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners and Ladies in Lavender starring alongside Hayley Mills.
Lang appeared with Nicholas Farrell and David Robb in Alan Bennett's "Single Spies" play during 2016. Her other theatre credits include Present Laughter (1981), The Clandestine Marriage (1984), Dead Funny (1995), Blithe Spirit (1997), and Hay Fever (2006). BBC Proms 2017 "Aunt Eller" in Oklahoma with the John Wilson Orchestra (2017).
In 2003, she established Haig-Lang productions with David Haig with the intention of producing plays and managing their own touring schedules; together they have worked on a number of productions including Hay Fever, My Boy Jack and Private Lives.
She is now a vice-president of the theatre charity The Theatrical Guild, having been involved with them for many years. Lang was chairman from 2009 to 2011 and continues to help promote them among the theatrical profession.

## Personal life

In 1988, Lang married actor Hugh Fraser, with whom she has one daughter.

## Selected Credits
### Television & Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Play for Today | Girl in bath | The Imitation Game |
| 1980 | To Serve Them All My Days | Beth | 4 episodes |
| 1983 | A Brother's Tale | Eileen Taylor | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | The Cabbage Patch | Susie | 7 episodes |
| 1984 | The Clairvoyant | Senior Nurse | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Operation Julie | D.C Joy Brookes | TV Movie |
| 1986 | Unnatural Causes | Helen Cassady | Episode: "Home Cooking" |
| 1986 | Victoria Wood As Seen on TV | Soldier's Girlfriend | 1 episode |
| 1986 - 1987 | Dear John | Kate | 12 episodes |
| 1987 - 1988 | The Bretts | Kate Brett | 19 episodes |
| 1988 | Bust | Sheila Walsh | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Stay Lucky | Lady Karen Winderscale | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Making News | Suzanne Critchley | Episode: "Yes We Have No Secrets" |
| 1990 - 1994 | The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries | Agatha Troy | 6 episodes |
| 1991 - 1994 | Second Thoughts | Liza Ferrari | 42 episodes |
| 1991 - 1999 | 2point4 Children | Bill Porter | 56 episodes |
| 1996 | The Office | Mrs Platt (voice only) | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Justice in Wonderland | Christine Hamilton | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Midsomer Murders | Elspeth Inkpen-Thomas | Episode: "Garden of Death" |
| 2004 | Rosemary & Thyme | Quinnie Dorell | Episode: "The Gongoozlers" |
| 2007 | Three Minute Moments | Esther | Film |
| 2008 | Doctors | Anne Marie Cavendish | Episode: "The Honey Trap" |
| 2009 | My Family | Margot | Episode: "A Very Brief Encounter" |
| 2013 | Doctors | Clarissa Auden | Episode: "A Few Bits" |
| 2014 | Citizen Khan | Marina Fairchild | Episode: "Farmer Khan" |
| 2022 - Present | Sister Boniface Mysteries | Mrs Clam | 22 episodes |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Teeth 'n' Smiles | Laura | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford |
| 1978 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | The Northcott, Exeter |
| 1979 | Mr Puntila and His Man Mati | Eva | Theatre Royal, Stratford |
| 1981 | Present Laughter | Daphne Stillington | Greenwich Theatre, London and Vaudeville Theatre |
| 1982 | Hobson's Choice | Vicky Hobson | Theatre Royal, Haymarket |
| 1983 | Antigone | Isme | The National Theatre, London |
| 1983-4 | The Cladestine Marriage | Miss Sterling | UK tour |
| 1986 | The Women | Miriam Arons | Theatre of Comedy, The National Theatre |
| 1989 | Thark | Kitty Stratton | Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith |
| 1996 | Dead Funny | Eleanor | UK tour |
| 1997 | Blithe Spirit | Ruth Codomine | Theatre Royal, Bath; and Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 1999 | Things We Do For Love | Barbara | UK tour |
| 2001 | Life x 3 | Sonia | Theatre Royal, Bath; and Savoy Theatre, London |
| 2003 | The Chalk Garden | Miss Madrigal | UK tour |
| 2005 | What the Butler Saw | Mrs Prentice | Criterieon Theatre, London |
| 2006 | Hay Fever | Myra Arundel | Theatre Royal, Haymarket |
| 2009 | A Song in Twilight | Carlotta | UK tour |
| 2009 | East is East | Ella | Birmingham Repetory Theatre, Birmingham |
| 2011 | Ladies in Lavender | Janet | Richmond Theatre, London |
| 2016 | Single Spies | Coral Browne/ HM Queen | UK tour |
| 2017 | Duet for One | Stephanie | UK tour |
| 2017 | Gabriel | Jeanne Becquet | UK tour |
| 2018 | The Country Wife | Lady Fidget | Minerva Theatre, Chichester |
| 2018 | Humble Boy | Flora Humble | Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond |
| 2025 | Little Women | Aunt March | UK tour |