Here’s where else you may recognize Doctor Who star Billie Piper. Fans of Billie Piper outside of the UK may not realize she first broke through as a pop star with hit singles like “Because We Want To” and “Girlfriend.” She only 15 when her debut single went to number one, which still makes her the youngest solo artist to do so in the UK. Piper followed up with a less successful second album and she later walked away from her music career to focus on acting.
After roles in the likes of the BBC’s The Canterbury Tales and ShakespeaRe-Told: Much Ado About Nothing, in addition to boxing comedy The Calcium Kid with Orlando Bloom, Billie Piper was cast as Rose Tyler on Doctor Who. This 2005 reboot starred Christopher Eccleston as the title character, with Rose acting as his companion. Eccelston and Piper shared great chemistry and this is a major reason the relaunch was a success. Unfortunately, a falling out between Eccelston and the BBC led the actor to leave Doctor Who after a single season, with David Tennant taking over. Piper herself would leave after season 2, though she has returned numerous times for special appearances.
During her time on the show, Billie Piper starred in comedy Things To Do Before You’re 30 and horror film Spirit Trap. She kept busy following her Doctor Who exit, appearing in Jane Austen TV movie adaptation Mansfield Park in 2007 and The Shadow In The North. She later earned acclaim for her work on TV drama Secret Diary Of A Call, where played London call girl Belle. This show ran for four seasons, coming to an end in 2011.
Billie Piper’s next major project came in the form of Penny Dreadful in 2014, where she played Brona Croft. This Showtime horror series was set in 19th Century London and co-starred Eva Green and Josh Harnett. The show also brought together several horror icons, including Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster and Dorian Gray. Piper received great reviews for her work and the show concluded following the third season.
In 2016, Billie Piper co-starred alongside Riz Ahmed (Venom) in noir movie City Of Tiny Lights and 2018’s Two For Joy. In 2019 she wrote, starred and directed in dark British comedy Rare Beasts, with the movie receiving great reviews. Her most recent role came with Eternal Beauty from director Craig Roberts, which co-starred Sally Hawkins (The Shape Of Water) and David Thewlis. The actress has also featured in a lot of plays throughout her career, including Great Britain and Yerma.
Next: Penny Dreadful: What Dorian Gray’s Portrait Looks Like
