Heather Jean Chasen was a Singapore-born English actress who often appeared in television, film and radio during her career. The award-nominated actress began her career in 1960, touring with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr and Sybil Thorndike. She became a household name whilst appearing in the soap opera Crossroads, as Valerie Pollard, and carried on to well known shows such as Marked Personal, The Bill, Doctors, Holby City, Family Affairs, Casualty, and, as Lydia Simmonds, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role for which she received much critical praise. Chasen became known for her role in the radio show The Navy Lark, and appearing in films such as Cat Run, and 2012's Les Misérables.
Her father was the curator of the Raffles Museum and Library in Singapore before WWII. When the Japanese invaded in 1941 she and her mother escaped on the last boat to leave for the UK. Her father was reported missing.
Her first big break came in 1965 in the play 'A Severed Head' in the West End.
Has one son Rupert Webster and two granddaughters Lauren and Emma.