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Belinda Lang

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Belinda Lang
Born
Belinda Lucy Lange

(1953-12-23) 23 December 1953 (age 71)
Marylebone, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children1
Notes

Belinda Lucy Lange Fraser (born 23 December 1953),[2] 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).[3] Her theatre credits include London productions of the Noël Coward plays, Present Laughter (1981), Blithe Spirit (1997), and Hay Fever (2006).[4] Her radio/audio credits include voicing narrator Madeleine in the podcast Wooden Overcoats.[5]

Early life

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Lang was born in the Marylebone district in West London, in 1953, the daughter of actors Jeremy Hawk and Joan Heal.[6][7]

Career

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Television

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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.[3] The sitcom ran for eight series, ending in 1999.

In 2000, she appeared as Christine Hamilton in the television film Justice in Wonderland.[8]

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.[9]

In 2022, she appeared as landlady Mrs Clam in Sister Boniface Mysteries in a recurring role.

Radio

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In 1988, Lang appeared in the BBC Radio 4 play Hard of Hearing opposite Graham Blockey.[10] She took part in Stilgoe's Around, also broadcast on Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2.[11] Second Thoughts was based on a radio programme originally broadcast on Radio 4.[12] 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.[13]

Theatre

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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.[14]

Lang appeared with Nicholas Farrell and David Robb in Alan Bennett's "Single Spies" play during 2016.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17]

Personal life

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In 1988, Lang married actor Hugh Fraser, with whom she has one daughter.[18][19]

Selected Credits

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Television & Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Play for Today Girl in bath The Imitation Game
To Serve Them All My Days Beth 4 episodes
1983 A Brother's Tale Eileen Taylor 3 episodes
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"
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
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

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Teeth 'n' Smiles Laura Oxford Playhouse, Oxford
1978 Cabaret Sally Bowles The Northcott, Exeter[20]
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[21]
1996 Dead Funny Eleanor UK tour[22]
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[23]
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
East is East Ella Birmingham Repetory Theatre, Birmingham
2011 Ladies in Lavender Janet Richmond Theatre, London[14]
2016 Single Spies Coral Browne/ HM Queen UK tour[24]
2017 Duet for One Stephanie UK tour[25]
Gabriel Jeanne Becquet UK tour
2018 The Country Wife Lady Fidget Minerva Theatre, Chichester[26]
Humble Boy Flora Humble Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond[27]
2025 Little Women Aunt March UK tour[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Belinda Lang". IMDb.
  2. ^ "Belinda Lang". BFI. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Two Point Four Children – BBC One London". BBC. 3 September 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Belinda Lang". Theatricalia.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Wooden Overcoats: The Podcast Sitcom". David K. Barnes.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Hayward, Anthony (5 February 2002). "Jeremy Hawk". The Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Belinda Lang". Mabumbe.
  8. ^ "Justice in Wonderland – BBC Two England". BBC. 5 March 2000. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. ^ "BBC One - Citizen Khan, Series 3, Farmer Khan".
  10. ^ "Hard of Hearing". BBC. 2 August 1988. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Stilgoe's Around – BBC Radio 4 FM – 12 August 1989 – BBC Genome". The Radio Times (3427). BBC: 51. 10 August 1989. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Second Thoughts". BBC. 14 November 1989. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Wooden Overcoats: The Podcast Sitcom". David K. Barnes.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b "Ladies in Lavender – Stage Dragon". The Guildford Dragon. 9 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Theatre Royal Bath – What's On". Theatre Royal Bath. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Belinda Lang". Official London Theatre. 17 April 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "The Theatrical Guild – Who We Are". Ttg.org.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  18. ^ Feinstein, Sharon. "The Interview: Belinda Lang – Our marriage is perfect even though I'm so bossy". Sunday Mirror. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  19. ^ Reed, Betsy (23 June 2007). "Cultureshock: The actor Belinda Lang tries not to embarrass her daughter at a gig, and then shares her love of musicals by taking Lily to see Fiddler on the Roof". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "On This Week". The Stage. 21 September 1978. p. 13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Theatre Week". The Stage. 14 December 1989. p. 12.
  22. ^ "Production News". The Stage. 2 May 1996. p. 47.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Scott, Will (17 March 2003). "Belinda Lang: interviewed March 2003". News Shopper.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Cheeseman, Neil (23 October 2015). "Alan Bennett's Single Spies to tour UK in 2016". LondonTheatre1.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Kemp, Jane (24 October 2017). "Review: Duet for One (Richmond Theatre)". What's On Stage.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Sparkle, Chris (9 June 2018). "Review: The Country Wife, Minerva Theatre, 9th June 2018". The Real Chris Sparkle.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Crompton, Jane (13 March 2018). "Review: Humble Boy (Orange Tree Theatre)". What's on Stage.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Wood, Alex (16 January 2025). "Little Women tour announces full casting". What's On Stage.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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