Billie Piper

File:Billiepiper.jpeg

Billie Piper in The Canterbury Tales.

Billie Paul Piper (born Leanne Paul Piper on 22September 1982) began her career as a pop singer in her teens, but is now best known for her role as Rose Tyler, assistant to the Doctor in Doctor Who.

Pop career

Piper's first break in the entertainment world came as a teenager, when she was selected for a television commercial promoting the pop magazine 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", released under the single 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 5ive, 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.

After she finishes filming for the 2006 season of Doctor Who, she 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.

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.

Media rumours that Piper was leaving the show were confirmed when Piper said she'd be leaving at the end of series 2. Billie then returned to Doctor Who in 2007 for Series 4 that was broadcast in 2008

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. Billie has one younger brother, Charlie, and two younger sisters, Harley and Ellie.

Piper married businessman, television presenter, and former 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).

As of September 2007, she has confirmed she is engaged to marry actor Laurence Fox.

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

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)

References

• 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) — retrieved 4th January 2006.
• Billboard Artist Chart History — retrieved 4th January 2006.
• BBC Press Office (9th January 2006). Billie Piper takes on title role as BBC secures rights to Pullman novels. Press release.
• "New role for Billie", BBC Doctor Who website, 9th January 2006. URL accessed 9th January 2006.

See also

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

External links

• Yahoo Groups: Billie Piper Club
• BBC Drama Faces: Billie Piper
• BilliePiper.com.ar
• This is Wiltshire — Billie Piper
• Billie Piper at the Internet Movie Database
• Billie Piper on Yahoo!
• MTV.com Billie Piper
• VH1.com Billie Piper