Billie Piper (born Billie Paul Piper on September 22, 1982, in
Swindon, Wiltshire, England) is an English actress who started her
career as a pop singer in her teens. Her parents registered her given
name as Leanne for three weeks, but changed their minds. Billie Piper
is the daughter of British actor Paul Piper.
Piper's first break in the entertainment world came as a teenager,
when she was selected for a TV commercial promoting the pop bible
Smash Hits. Her role was to run up to the camera, blow a bubble and
shout "Pop!" Soon after she was offered a record deal at the age of
just fifteen, and in 1998 became the youngest artist ever to debut at
number one in the UK singles chart with "Because We Want To". Her
follow-up single "Girlfriend" also d?buted at Number One, and several
other successful singles and two albums followed. In 1999, Piper was
nominated for two Brit Awards and was named Best Female Star at the
Smash Hits Poll Winners' party, although at the latter ceremony she
was reduced to tears after being viciously booed by jealous fans of
Ritchie Neville, member of boyband 5ive, whom she was dating at the
time.
Piper married businessman and television presenter Chris Evans in May
2001 in Las Vegas. Their marriage attracted much comment due to the
sixteen-year age gap between the two. In October 2004, the two began a
trial separation. In spring of 2005 it was confirmed that she and
Evans would be divorcing. The two remain friends, and in November 2005
Piper was a guest on the first episode of her ex-husband's show OFI
Sunday. As of 2006 Piper and Evans live two houses away from each
other.
She switched back to her original ambition of acting in 2003 after the
she quickly earned roles in the BBC Television series The Canterbury
Tales (modern retellings of Chaucer's stories) and the one-off drama
Bella and the Boys. Despite the negative reaction usually given to
singers who attempt to act, Piper gained very positive reviews for
these appearances, critics seemingly feeling that she was a far better
actress than she was a singer.
In 2004 she appeared in the films The Calcium Kid, as the girlfriend
of Orlando Bloom's character, and Things to do Before You're Thirty.
In May 2004 it was announced she was to play the character Rose Tyler,
companion to the Doctor in the 2005 series of Doctor Who. Shortly
before starting work on Doctor Who she filmed a starring role in the
horror movie Spirit Trap, released in the summer of 2005 to generally
poor reviews. On October 25, 2005, Piper won the Most Popular Actress
category at the National Television Awards for her work on Doctor Who.
In November 2005 she starred as Hero in a BBC adaptation of Much Ado
About Nothing, updated for the modern day in a similar manner to the
Canterbury Tales series in which she featured, with Hero now being a
weather presenter in a television station.
Although Dreamwatch magazine reported that Piper would leave Doctor
Who partway through the 2006 season, the BBC has since announced that
Piper will return for the whole of the 2006 series. The Daily
Telegraph reported on November 5, 2005 that Piper had been signed for
a third series in a "lucrative golden handcuffs deal." However, on 12
November, The Mirror reported that she had informed the producers that
she would not be returning for a third series. The BBC has declined to
confirm or deny the Mirror report. Adding to the confusion, on 13
November The Daily Star quoted a "friend" of Piper's as saying that
she had in fact signed for a third series; this was picked up by other
sources, which had Piper herself calling the rumours "rubbish".
BBC News named Piper as one of its "Faces of the Year" for 2005,
primarily due to her success in Doctor Who. At The South Bank Show
Awards on January 27, 2006 Piper was awarded The Times Breakthrough
Award for her successful transition from singing to acting.
After she finishes filming for the 2006 season of Doctor Who, Piper
will begin work on The Ruby in the Smoke, a BBC adaptation of Philip
Pullman's historical novel. Piper will play protagonist Sally
Lockhart, a Victorian orphan. The BBC plans to film all four of
Pullman's Sally Lockhart novels, presumably with Piper continuing in
the role.
Filmography
Television
* The Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale (BBC One, 2003) - Alison
Crosby
* Bella and the Boys (BBC Two, 2004) - Bella
* Doctor Who (BBC One, 2005-) - Rose Tyler
* ShakespeaRe-Told: Much Ado About Nothing (BBC One, 2005) - Hero
* The Friday Night Project (Channel 4, 2006) - Herself (guest
presenter)
* The Ruby in the Smoke (BBC One, forthcoming) - Sally Lockhart
Film
* Evita (1996, uncredited bit-part)
* The Leading Man (1996, uncredited bit-part)
* The Calcium Kid (2004) - Angel
* Things to do Before You're Thirty (2005) - Vicky
* Spirit Trap (2005) - Jenny
Discography
Singles
* "Because We Want To" (1998) #1 UK; #19 Australia
* "Girlfriend" (1998) #1 UK; #35 Australia
* "She Wants You" (1998) #3 UK; #9 US Hot Dance Music/Club Play
* "Honey To The Bee" (1999) #3 UK; #6 Australia
* "Thank ABBA For The Music" (with Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra and
B*Witched) (1999) #4 UK; #9 Australia
* "Day & Night" (2000) #1 UK; #8 Australia
* "Something Deep Inside" (2000) #4 UK, #26 Australia
* "Walk of Life" (2000) #25 UK
Albums
* Honey to the B (1998) UK #14
* Walk of Life (2000) UK #14
* The Very Best Of Billie Piper (2005)