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Despite being just 28 years old, BILLIE PIPER has crammed more into her career than most people manage in a lifetime. Piper signed a record deal at the age of 15 that would mark the beginning of a hugely successful career, producing two successful albums and three number one singles — the first "Because We Want To" made her the youngest artist to debut at number one on the UK charts.

Her real passion lay in acting however, and in 2003 she hung up the microphone and began to pursue her true ambition. She quickly found roles in the BBC series The Canterbury Tales and Bella and the Boys. Both performances were critically acclaimed confirming her obvious talent for drama. This trend of securing critical acclaim for great performances was furthered in her roles in period dramas such as Ruby in the Smoke and Mansfield Park.

It was her role as 'Rose Tyler' in the revamped and immensely popular Doctor Who that would bring further success. Piper's portrayal of "Rose" won her the "Most Popular Actress" award at the 2005 and 2006 National Television Awards. A string of other awards and lead roles followed, in a period that saw her leave Doctor Who and land the lead in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.