Belinda Lang
Encyclopedia
Belinda Lang is an English actress, best known in the United Kingdom for her role as Bill Porter in the long running BBC
sitcom 2point4 children
(1991–1999).
as husband Ben, in the BBC
TV comedy 2point4 children
. She is also known for her role in Second Thoughts as Liza Ferrari.
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 she took the role of 'Kate' in both series of the sitcom Dear John
(1986–1987).
Following Dear John she played Martha in The Bretts (1987–88) 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 1990–1994.
In 1991 she took a lead role in 2point4 children
alongside Gary Olsen
. The sitcom would run for 8 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.
Following 2point4 children
Lang has rarely appeared on television, instead taking on more theatre 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
, television presenter Quinnie Dorrell in "The Gongoozlers" and a 2004 episode of the murder mystery series Rosemary and Thyme.
In 2009 she made a brief return to sitcom, playing Margot in an episode of BBC sitcom My Family.
.
(1918–2002) and Joan Heal (1922–1998).
She is married to actor Hugh Fraser
with whom she has one daughter, Lily.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
(1991–1999).
Television
Lang is perhaps best known for her starring role as Bill Porter, alongside Gary OlsenGary Olsen
Gary Olsen was an English actor.Olsen was born in London and lived with an aunt and uncle, after losing both his parents at an early age. He attended the Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School in Kennington...
as husband Ben, in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV comedy 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
. She is also known for her role in Second Thoughts as Liza Ferrari.
After a small part as 'Girl in Bath' in Play for Today
Play for Today
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted...
in 1980 she appeared in the 1980 miniseries To Serve Them All My Days
To Serve Them All My Days
To Serve Them All My Days is a novel by British author R. F. Delderfield.First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980...
, following this she had several one off appearances and small parts until she took the role of 'Kate' in both series of the sitcom Dear John
Dear John (UK TV series)
Dear John is a British sitcom, written by John Sullivan. Two series and a "special" were broadcast between 1986 and 1987.This sitcom's title referred to letters sent by girls to their boyfriends breaking off the relationship, known as "Dear John" letters. In the opening episode, John discovers his...
(1986–1987).
Following Dear John she played Martha in The Bretts (1987–88) during which she acted alongside her future husband, Hugh Fraser
Hugh Fraser (actor)
Hugh Fraser is an English actor and theatre director.-Early life:Born in London but raised in the East Midlands, Fraser studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
and during the same period also appeared as Sheila Walsh in Bust
Bust
Bust may refer to:*Bust , a sculpture depicting a person's head and shoulders*Bust , a feminist pop culture magazine*Bust, Bas-Rhin, a city in north-eastern France*Bust, a word for a woman's breasts...
.
Lang also had a lead part in the television series Inspector Alleyn Mysteries in which she played the artist Agatha Troy between 1990–1994.
In 1991 she took a lead role in 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
alongside Gary Olsen
Gary Olsen
Gary Olsen was an English actor.Olsen was born in London and lived with an aunt and uncle, after losing both his parents at an early age. He attended the Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School in Kennington...
. The sitcom would run for 8 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.
Following 2point4 children
2point4 children
2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
Lang has rarely appeared on television, instead taking on more theatre work. She has, however, made guest appearances in several programmes including; playing the ill-fated business woman, Elspeth Inkpen-Thomas in Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...
, alongside John Nettles
John Nettles
John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE is an English actor, historian and writer who is best known for playing the lead roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders.-Early life:...
, television presenter Quinnie Dorrell in "The Gongoozlers" and a 2004 episode of the murder mystery series Rosemary and Thyme.
In 2009 she made a brief return to sitcom, playing Margot in an episode of BBC sitcom My Family.
Television credits
- Play for TodayPlay for TodayPlay for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted...
- Girl in bath (1980) - To Serve Them All My DaysTo Serve Them All My DaysTo Serve Them All My Days is a novel by British author R. F. Delderfield.First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980...
- Beth (1980) - The Cabbage Patch - Susie (1983)
- A Brother's Tale - Eileen Taylor (1983)
- Operation JulieOperation JulieOperation Julie was a UK police investigation into the production of LSD by two drug rings during the mid-1970s. The operation, involving 11 police forces over a two-and-a-half year period, resulted in the break-up of one of the largest LSD manufacturing operations in the world...
- D.C Joy Brookes (1985) - Unnatural CausesUnnatural CausesYou may be looking for UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, a documentary series broadcast on PBS in 2008.Unnatural Causes is a detective novel by English crime writer P. D. James.-Synopsis:...
- Helen Cassady (1986) - Victoria Wood As Seen On TVVictoria Wood As Seen On TVVictoria Wood As Seen On TV was a British comedy sketch series starring comedienne Victoria Wood, with Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Susie Blake and Patricia Routledge...
- Soldiers Girlfriend (1986) - Dear JohnDear John (UK TV series)Dear John is a British sitcom, written by John Sullivan. Two series and a "special" were broadcast between 1986 and 1987.This sitcom's title referred to letters sent by girls to their boyfriends breaking off the relationship, known as "Dear John" letters. In the opening episode, John discovers his...
- Kate (1986–1987) - The Bretts - Martha (1987–1988)
- BustBustBust may refer to:*Bust , a sculpture depicting a person's head and shoulders*Bust , a feminist pop culture magazine*Bust, Bas-Rhin, a city in north-eastern France*Bust, a word for a woman's breasts...
- Sheila Walsh (1987–1988) - Stay LuckyStay LuckyStay Lucky is a 1989–1993 British television comedy-drama series. Made by Yorkshire Television and screened on the ITV network, it starred Dennis Waterman and Jan Francis.-Plot:...
- Lady Karen Winderscale (1989) - Making NewsMaking NewsMaking News is a television drama set in the world of journalism produced by Thames Television for the ITV network.A pilot was screened in 1989, followed by one series of six episodes in 1990. The leading cast members included Bill Nighy, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Paul Darrow, Annie Lambert and Tony Osoba....
- Suzanne Critchley (1990) - Alleyn Mysteries - Agatha Troy (1990–1994)
- Second Thoughts - Liza Ferrari (1991–1994)
- The Office - Mrs Platt (voice only) (1996)
- 2point4 children2point4 children2point4 Children is a 1990s British sitcom that was created and written by Andrew Marshall. It follows the lives of the Porter family; an average family that is persistently faced with surreal situations and sheer bad luck....
- Bill Porter (1991–1999) - Justice In Wonderland - Christine Hamilton (2000)
- Midsomer MurdersMidsomer MurdersMidsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...
- Elspeth Inkpen-Thomas (2000) - Rosemary & ThymeRosemary & ThymeRosemary & Thyme is a British television mystery series that starred Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris as gardening detectives Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme. The show began on ITV in 2003, and the third series ended in August 2007...
- Quinnie Dorell (2004) - Three Minute MomentsThree Minute MomentsThree Minute Moments is a 2007 British comedy feature film about speed dating. It was directed by Don Allen and written by Hari Patience. Three Minute Moments stars Katherine Heath, Giles Alderson, Philip Hayden, Naomi Martin and Belinda Lang who has an illustrious career in theatre and on television...
- Esther (2007) - Doctors - Anne Marie Cavendish (2008)
- My Family - Margot (2009)
Theatre Work
During recent years Lang has taken on many stage roles. She is part of the cast of the touring play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly SinnersSeven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners
Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners is an anthology-style play compiled and written by Carry On... writer Norman Hudis and producer Marc Sinden, who is also the director...
.
Personal life
Lang is the daughter of actors Jeremy HawkJeremy Hawk
Jeremy Hawk was a character actor with a long career in music halls and on London's West End stage...
(1918–2002) and Joan Heal (1922–1998).
She is married to actor Hugh Fraser
Hugh Fraser (actor)
Hugh Fraser is an English actor and theatre director.-Early life:Born in London but raised in the East Midlands, Fraser studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
with whom she has one daughter, Lily.