billie piper

Pop career

Piper's first break in the entertainment world came as a teenager, when she was selected to appear on the Saturday morning kids' television show Scratchy & Co. Piper later landed a role in a television commercial promoting the pop magazine Smash Hits. Her role was to run up to the camera, blow a bubblegum bubble and shout "Pop!" Soon after she was offered a record deal at the age of fifteen, and in 1998 became the youngest artist ever to debut at number one in the UK singles chart with "Because We Want To", released under the artist name "Billie". Her follow-up single "Girlfriend" also debuted at Number One, and her first album, Honey to the B (released immediately afterwards) debuted at Number 14 in the UK album charts. She released two further singles off the album, "She Wants You" and "Honey to the Bee"; both songs debuted at Number 3.

Piper then took a year off to record her second album. She decided to release further records under her full name, Billie Piper. She returned to the Singles Chart in May 2000 with a new, sexier sound. She hit the Number 1 spot with "Day & Night", but her success wasn't to continue. She waited until the following September to release "Something Deep Inside". That reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. In October 2000, Piper released her second album, Walk of Life, which reached Number 14 in the UK Album Chart. The song "Walk of Life", the final single off this album, was released in December 2000 and reached Number 25 in the UK Singles Chart. This proved to be Piper's last musical release, a low-key exit from the world of pop.

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 Five, whom she was dating at the time.

Acting career

In 2003, Piper decided to end her pop career and return to her original ambition, acting. She took acting lessons while living in Los Angeles and, still a high-profile figure, 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 romantic interest of Orlando Bloom's character, and Things to do Before You're Thirty. 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.

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.

She will next work on a BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's historical novel The Ruby in the Smoke. 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.

In 2007 she will appear as the main character, Fanny Price, in an adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, to be screened on ITV1.^[2] This will be her first acting role on television for a broadcaster other than the BBC.

Doctor Who

In May 2004, it was announced that Piper was to play the character Rose Tyler, companion to the Doctor in the revived series of Doctor Who, beginning in 2005.

On 25 October 2005, Piper won the Most Popular Actress category at the National Television Awards for her work on Doctor Who. 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 27 January 2006 Piper was awarded The Times Breakthrough Award for her successful transition from singing to acting. In March 2006, the Television and Radio Industries Club named Piper as best new TV talent in their annual Tric awards. In September 2006, Piper was named Best Actress at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards.^[3]

After the completion of the first series of Doctor Who, the British media regularly released conflicting reports about how long Piper would be staying with the programme. In March 2006, Piper claimed that she would continue on Doctor Who into its third season in 2007;^[4] however, on May 10, 2006 Piper was reported to be considering quitting the series, although she did express an interest in playing a female version of The Doctor in the future (possibly related to a proposed Doctor Who spin-off series about Rose which was later dropped). ^[5] On June 15, 2006, when it was announced by the BBC that she was to depart in the final episode of the second series, "Doomsday" ^[6] and it has also been revealed that her decision to leave was taken a year previously, but it remained a secret until recently.^[7]

Rose leaves the show after being trapped on an alternate planet Earth, along with her family and former boyfriend. She has a final, heartbreaking scene on a beach with the Doctor, where she declares her love for him, but he is cut off as he starts to reply. Both Piper and head writer Russell T. Davies have mentioned this move was intended to leave the door open for her return to the role at a later date. Rumours about a return in the 2007 series have, however, been denied in print by Davies.

Personal life

Piper was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England to Paul and Mandy Piper. Her parents changed her given name from "Leanne" (originally Leiane) three weeks after registering her birth. Piper has one younger brother, Charlie, and two younger sisters, Harley and Ellie.^[8]

Piper grew up in Nine Elms, Swindon. She went to Brookfield Primary School in the Shaw, Swindon, and Bradon Forest Secondary School in the village of Purton. She supports Swindon Town football club. Later, she attended The Sylvia Young Theatre School. She is 1.65m tall. She is quoted as saying that "Weight doesn't matter as long as you're happy with yourself."

Piper married businessman, television presenter, and BBC Radio 2 DJ 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 still refers to her ex-husband as "Mr. E" (a subtle reference to her "Mystery" marriage).

A story in The Independent on 27 June 2006 stated that Piper has declared that she does not wish to claim any money from Evans' reported £30m wealth. "I'm not taking a penny from him," she told the Radio Times. "I think that's disgusting." They will divorce amicably in September.

Piper is currently dating law student Amadu Sowe and has expressed interest in marriage^[9] as well as stating she is bi-curious.^[10]

Autobiography

Piper has signed a six-figure contract with publishers Hodder and Stoughton to write her autobiography, which will be released in autumn 2006.^[11]

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, 2005–2006) - 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

• Mansfield Park (ITV1, forthcoming) - Fanny Price

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; #9 Ireland; #19 Australia
• "Girlfriend" (1998) #1 UK; #12 Ireland; #35 Australia
• "She Wants You" (1998) #3 UK; #9 US Hot Dance Music/Club Play; #21 Ireland
• "Honey To The Bee" (1999) #3 UK; #6 Australia; #25 Ireland; subsequently recorded by Play
• "I Dream" (scheduled to be the fifth single from Honey to the B)
• "Last Christmas" (promo single, cover of song by George Michael)
• "Thank ABBA For The Music" (medley of ABBA songs, with Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra and B*Witched) (1999) #4 UK; #5 Ireland; #9 Australia
• "Day & Night" (2000) #1 UK; #8 Australia; #13 Ireland
• "Something Deep Inside" (2000) #4 UK, #26 Australia
• "Walk of Life" (2000) #25 UK
• "The Tide Is High" (cover of song by Blondie, scheduled to be the 4th single from Walk of Life)

B-sides and other tracks

• "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T." (Because We Want To B-side/The Best Of album track; cover of song by Changing Faces)
• "Love Groove" (Girlfriend B-side/Honey to the B album track)
• "Last Christmas" (She Wants You B-side/Promo single; cover of song by George Michael)
• "It Takes Two" (She Wants You B-side; cover of song by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston)
• "So Deep" (She Wants You B-side/Honey To The Bee US album track)
• "Call Me" (Honey To The Bee B-side)
• "What's Missing" (Honey To The Bee B-side)
• "Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can)" (Pokemon: The First Movie Soundtrack)
• "Tinted Eyes" (Day & Night B-side)
• "First Love" (Something Deep Inside B-side/The Best Of album track)
• "Caress The Gold" (Walk Of Life B-side/The Best Of album track)

Albums

• Honey to the B 1998 (UK #14)
• Walk of Life 2000 (UK #14)
• The Very Best Of Billie Piper 2005 (budget release)

Ranking in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women

1. 56 in 1999
2. 86 in 2000
3. 48 in 2001
4. 11 in 2006

References

• Cook, Benjamin. "Billie", Doctor Who Magazine, 4 January 2006, pp. 13–21.
• McLean, Craig. "Why we fell under Piper's spell", The Daily Telegraph, 5 November 2005. Retrieved on 2006-01-03.
• "Faces of the year - the women", BBC News, 30 December 2005. Retrieved on 2006-01-03.
• Searchable index of UK chart positions, including Piper's hits
• List of all #1 songs (including Piper's) from The Official UK Charts Company
• Rage playlists (Australian music TV show) — re

Footnotes

1. ^ GRO Birth Registration Index (1982).
2. ^ Dooks, Brian. "Historic hall to host Austen adaptation", Yorkshire Post, 2006-08-16. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.
3. ^ "Doctor Who lands three TV awards", BBC News, 2006-09-05. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
4. ^ Dermody, Nick. "Third series for Dr Who and Rose", BBC, 2006-03-30. Retrieved on 2006-03-30.
5. ^ "Billie Piper to be the first female Doctor Who?", Fametastic, 2006-05-10. Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
6. ^ "Billie Piper to leave Doctor Who", BBC, 2006-06-15. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
7. ^ "Cover Girl Billie", BBC, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.
8. ^ Drew, Mark. "I'm happy about the wedding", Swindon Advertiser, 2001-06-19. Retrieved on 2006-04-04.
9. ^ "Billie's marriage plans", FemaleFirst, 2006-04-14. Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
10. ^ "Billie wants a woman", Gay Community News, 2006-05-13. Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
11. ^ "Doctor Who star signs book deal", BBC, 2006-05-03. Retrieved on 2006-05-06.

See also

• "Breaking Records" section of Wikipedia article "1998 in British music"

External links

• Yahoo Groups: Billie Piper Club
• BBC Drama Faces: Billie Piper
• Billie Piper at the Internet Movie Database
• Billie Piper at TV.com