Billie
Piper (born Billie Paul Piper on September 22, 1982,
in Swindon, England, UK) is a British 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.
Biography
After being spotted in a television advert while still
at stage school, 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 débuted 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.
She switched back to her original
ambition of acting in 2003 after the self-made decision
to end her pop career. Still a high-profile figure,
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.
Piper was married to businessman and
television presenter Chris Evans. Their 2001 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 will be divorcing. They remain
friends, however, and she appeared on the first edition
of OFI Sunday.
Although Dreamwatch magazine reported
in its May 21, 2005 issue that her agent stated that
Piper would leave Doctor Who partway through the season,
only appearing for three to seven episodes, 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".
Filmography
Television
The Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale (BBC One,
2003)
Bella and the Boys (BBC Two, 2004)
Doctor Who (BBC One, 2005)
ShakespeaRe-Told: Much Ado About Nothing (BBC One,
2005)
Film
Evita (1996, uncredited bit-part)
The Leading Man (1996, uncredited bit-part)
The Calcium Kid (2004)
Things to do Before You're Thirty (2005)
Spirit Trap (2005)
Discography
Albums
Honey to the B (1998) UK #1
Walk of Life (2000) UK #14
The Very Best Of Billie Piper UK release date: 8 August
2005
Singles
"Because We Want To" (1998) #1 UK; #19 AU
"Girlfriend" (1998) #1 UK; #35 AU
"She Wants You" (1998) #3 UK
"Honey to the Bee" (1999) #3 UK; #6 AU
"Thank ABBA For The Music" (with Steps,
Tina Cousins, Cleopatra and B*Witched) (1999) #4 UK;
#9 AU
"Day & Night" (2000) #1 UK; #8 AU
"Something Deep Inside" (2000) #4 UK
"Walk of Life" (2000) #25 UK
References
McLean, Craig: “Why we fell under Piper's spell”,
The Daily Telegraph, 5 November 2005.
source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
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