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Based on the popular diary of the anonymous sex worker known only as Belle de Jour.

This is a history of the England's Ealing Studios, from its beginnings in 1902. It follows the studio's successes through the 1930's, World War II dramas, the well-known Ealing comedies with Alec Guinness, and the BBC's television productions. At the end, we see the resurrection of Ealing with the release of "The Importance of Being Earnest" (2002).

Belle attends her book launch disguised as a waitress but leaves early to meet American client Jesse, whilst Ben is mistaken for the author by a lady named Camilla,who beds him before realising her mistake. Belle's publisher Duncan is so taken by sales that he asks her to prepare a follow-up though Stephanie, Belle's agent,is less impressed by her depiction in the book.

Belle's sister Jackie comes to stay, having left her husband, and Belle feels unable to tell her about her line of work. However, whilst Belle is out, Jackie is turned on by reading her book and gets very drunk, having sex with Ben who has come to call. Belle is not amused though, nor is Stephanie, who has now worked out that Belle is the author of the tell-all expose. Nor is Bambi, because black girls get paid less than white. However Bambi does hit it off with new client Byron, a mystery man whom she first encounters being chased down the street.

Belle's handsome publisher Duncan criticizes her writing style, feeling more stress should be given to what really turns her clients on. In the case of nervous young actuary Simon, it's farmyard noises, which Belle feels unable to divulge and she finds her writing is better when she imagines Duncan is her fantasy sex partner. Ben is now a frequent visitor to her flat, to sleep with sister Jackie, much to Belle's annoyance, and Bambi finds Byron is becoming more to her than just a paying punter.

Belle entertains Des, a young man who loves to be covered in messy foodstuffs, not the most erotic subject for her next chapter, so she turns to Duncan for the real thing. Bambi tries in vain to reject an ardent Byron, who buys her a bicycle and proposes to her whilst Ben breaks things off with Jackie.

Duncan tells Belle he is falling for her and comes on to her again but, visualizing regular client Al giving her advice, she puts him off, saying that escorts should not carry emotional baggage. So both she and Ben are amazed when Bambi and Byron announce their forthcoming marriage. Duncan persists in claiming that he can handle Belle's work if they become an item, so she finally gives in, even telling him her real name.

Belle gives total satisfaction to Stuart,who enjoys their enacting a James Bond fantasy. However,on a date with Duncan,she sees Stuart with his wife and feels that Duncan speaking to him will lose her his custom. To make things worse Byron and Ben, both drunk, turn up and harass Duncan. As a result she tells Ben their friendship is over.

To gain a client's perspective for her book Belle visits male escort Connor, who,to start with, is not very good but, after Belle has revealed her job and taught him a thing or two, the session hots up. Still blanking Ben for his treatment of Duncan Belle feels uncomfortable about writing the chapter and prefers to have sex with Duncan,who claims he loves her. However Belle is unaware that he has visited Bambi professionally.

Belle and Duncan attend Bambi's wedding to Byron where Belle is hesitant about accepting Stephanie's offer of work in the Maldives because of her commitment to Duncan. However her attitude changes when Bambi tells her Duncan is one of her regular punters and she is unconvinced when he explains that, though he loves her, he sees theirs as an open relationship. She turns to Ben for consolation and they send an email to Duncan's firm exposing him as a prostitute's client. She then flies off to the Maldives, with a note from Ben which says that he loves her.

Now a house owner, Belle entertains young barrister Liam, whose downstairs problems she alleviates with a little wig-and-gown role play. Through him she learns that Stephanie is remanded in custody for money laundering. Whilst reluctant to take over the business she agrees to host Stephanie's daughter Poppy, who is innocent of her mother's work. Then Ben proposes to her.

Belle reluctantly takes over the business from Stephanie but finds herself being challenged by stroppy Charlotte,who almost gives the game away to Poppy. She feels under pressure and confides in Tim,a boy who has gone with her to prove to himself that he is gay. After meeting Ben's mother - who takes her aside to tell her she knows what she does and has read her book - she agrees that Ben should move in with her.

Belle has a new client, Harry Keegan,a detective sergeant who is handsome but slightly creepy since he knows a lot about her and is keen on having sex in dangerously public places. Poppy finds out at last that her mother and Belle are high-class call girls and the discovery leaves her shocked and angry. Belle's sister Jackie also drops by and,given their history,she is cool towards Ben.

Belle postpones a trip to New York to meet the director of a film based on her book to accompany Poppy on a prison visit to Stephanie. Mother and daughter merely end up rowing. Despite taking on one of Charlotte's clients, a middle-aged man who like to dress as a baby,Belle takes the moral high ground when she catches Poppy in bed with a boy she picked up in a bar. This leads to an argument with Ben and Belle taking the next plane to New York.

Belle lives it up in New York where the female star and male producer of her projected film adaptation get a little too carried away enacting the scenario. She misses Ben and the feeling is mutual as he fights off the attentions of Poppy, whom Charlotte has tried to recruit as a call-girl. Belle is ultimately appalled that the finished screenplay of her book is no more than cheap, shallow porn and returns to England.

Belle returns from America to find Charlotte running the business. Furthermore Poppy has climbed into bed with Ben,giving Belle the wrong idea. She immerses herself in work,pleasuring a Japanese client who likes wrestling as well as winning back star client David from Charlotte. She also wins back Ben after Poppy admits he was innocent but this leads to him accusing Belle of double standards.

After Poppy has moved back to her mother's house Belle goes to a hotel for a vampire role play with film critic Ambrose but he literally dies on the job. In a panic Belle rings Ben but,after their recent cooling off,he has accepted a platonic date with Poppy. The appearance of Harry provides Belle with a shoulder to cry on but she resists his advances and returns to Ben.

Belle has an awkward session with a client who recognizes her from school and a post-coital chat with him leads her to ponder her future. At a party given by Stephanie to celebrate her release Belle meets Harry,who wants her to move in with him but she refuses. She also turns down Ben's proposal,explaining that he is too good for her and that first and foremost she is a career girl.