Belinda Lang

Belinda Lucy Lange (born 23 December 1953),[2] known professionally as Belinda Lang, is an English actress. She is known for playing 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). Her radio/audio credits include voicing narrator Madeleine in the podcast Wooden Overcoats.

Belinda Lang
Born
Belinda Lucy Lange

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

Early life

Lang was born in Marylebone, London, in 1953, the daughter of actors Jeremy Hawk and Joan Heal.[4]

Career

Television

Lang is perhaps best known for her starring roles in three sitcoms – as Kate in Dear John, as Bill Porter in 2point4 Children and as Liza Ferrari in Second Thoughts.[3]

After a small part as 'Girl in Bath' in Play for Today in 1980 she appeared in the 1980 miniseries To Serve Them All My Days, following this she had several one-off appearances and small parts until her role in Dear John. Following Dear John (1986–1987), she played Martha in The Bretts (1987–1988) during which she acted alongside her future husband, Hugh Fraser and during the same period also appeared 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 would run for eight series until it ended in 1999 due to the death of Olsen in 2000.

In 2000, she appeared as Christine Hamilton in the television film Justice in Wonderland.[5]

Following 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, and a couple of 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.[6]

In 2022 she appears 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.[7] She took part in Stilgoe's Around, also broadcast on Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2.[8] Second Thoughts was based on a radio programme originally broadcast on Radio 4.[9] 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.

Personal life

In 1988 she married actor Hugh Fraser, with whom she has one daughter, Lily.[10]

Television credits

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.[11] 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).

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.[12]

References
  1. "Belinda Lang". IMDb.
  2. "Belinda Lang". BFI. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. "Two Point Four Children – BBC One London". BBC. 3 September 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. Hayward, Anthony (5 February 2002). "Jeremy Hawk". The Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  5. "Justice in Wonderland – BBC Two England". BBC. 5 March 2000. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  6. "BBC One - Citizen Khan, Series 3, Farmer Khan".
  7. "Hard of Hearing". BBC. 2 August 1988. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  8. "Stilgoe's Around – BBC Radio 4 FM – 12 August 1989 – BBC Genome". The Radio Times. BBC (3427): 51. 10 August 1989. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. "Second Thoughts". BBC. 14 November 1989. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  10. 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.
  11. "Theatre Royal Bath – What's On". Theatre Royal Bath. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. "The Theatrical Guild – Who We Are". Ttg.org.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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