Billie Paul Piper (born Leian Paul Piper on September 22, 1982) is a British actress and singer. She was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Piper attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts during her childhood.
Before transitioning to acting, Piper achieved significant success as a pop singer in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her debut single, “Because We Want To,” reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1998, making her the youngest female artist to achieve this feat at the time. She released two studio albums, Honey to the B (1998) and Walk of Life (2000), before retiring from music to pursue acting.
Piper’s acting career began in 2004 with a role in the film The Calcium Kid. However, her breakthrough role came in 2005 when she was cast as Rose Tyler, the companion to the Ninth and Tenth Doctors in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who. She remained a regular cast member until 2006 and made several guest appearances in subsequent seasons.
Following her success in Doctor Who, Piper has starred in several critically acclaimed television series, including: