Belinda Lucy Lang Fraser (born 23 December 1953), known professionally as Belinda Lang, is an English actress. She starred 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 Belinda Lucy Lange, in the Marylebone district in West London, in 1953, the daughter of actors Jeremy Hawk and Joan Heal. The family surname was later shortened to Lang.

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, and 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.

From 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, with 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 (born 1990).

Selected credits

Television & film +YearTitleRoleNotes1980Play for TodayGirl in bathThe Imitation GameTo Serve Them All My DaysBeth4 episodes1983A Brother's TaleEileen Taylor3 episodesThe Cabbage PatchSusie7 episodes1984The ClairvoyantSenior Nurse1 episode1985Operation JulieD.C Joy BrookesTV Movie1986Unnatural CausesHelen CassadyEpisode: "Home Cooking"Victoria Wood As Seen on TVSoldier's Girlfriend1 episode1986–1987Dear JohnKate12 episodes1987–1988The BrettsKate Brett19 episodes1988BustSheila Walsh6 episodes1989Stay LuckyLady Karen Winderscale2 episodes1990Making NewsSuzanne CritchleyEpisode: "Yes We Have No Secrets"1990–1994The Inspector Alleyn MysteriesAgatha Troy6 episodes1991–1994Second ThoughtsLiza Ferrari42 episodes1991–19992point4 ChildrenBill Porter56 episodes1996The OfficeMrs Platt (voice only)TV Movie2000Justice in WonderlandChristine HamiltonMidsomer MurdersElspeth Inkpen-ThomasEpisode: "Garden of Death"2004Rosemary & ThymeQuinnie DorellEpisode: "The Gongoozlers"2007Three Minute MomentsEstherFilm2008DoctorsAnne Marie CavendishEpisode: "The Honey Trap"2009My FamilyMargotEpisode: "A Very Brief Encounter"2013DoctorsClarissa AudenEpisode: "A Few Bits"2014Citizen KhanMarina FairchildEpisode: "Farmer Khan"2022–presentSister Boniface MysteriesMrs Clam22 episodes

Theatre +YearTitleRoleNotes1977Teeth 'n' SmilesLauraOxford Playhouse, Oxford1978CabaretSally BowlesThe Northcott, Exeter1979Mr Puntila and His Man MatiEvaTheatre Royal, Stratford1981Present LaughterDaphne StillingtonGreenwich Theatre, London and Vaudeville Theatre1982Hobson's ChoiceVicky HobsonTheatre Royal, Haymarket1983AntigoneIsmeThe National Theatre, London1983–1984The Cladestine MarriageMiss SterlingUK tour1986The WomenMiriam AronsTheatre of Comedy, The National Theatre1989TharkKitty StrattonLyric Theatre, Hammersmith1996Dead FunnyEleanorUK tour1997Blithe SpiritRuth CodomineTheatre Royal, Bath; and Chichester Festival Theatre1999Things We Do For LoveBarbaraUK tour2001Life x 3SoniaTheatre Royal, Bath; and Savoy Theatre, London2003The Chalk GardenMiss MadrigalUK tour2005What the Butler SawMrs PrenticeCriterieon Theatre, London2006Hay FeverMyra ArundelTheatre Royal, Haymarket2009A Song in TwilightCarlottaUK tourEast is EastEllaBirmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham2011Ladies in LavenderJanetRichmond Theatre, London2016Single SpiesCoral Browne/ HM QueenUK tour2017Duet for OneStephanieUK tourGabrielJeanne BecquetUK tour2018The Country WifeLady FidgetMinerva Theatre, ChichesterHumble BoyFlora HumbleOrange Tree Theatre, Richmond2025Little WomenAunt MarchUK tour

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