Born:
September 22, 1982
in
Swindon, Wiltshire
Best Known For:
Being Doctor Who's sidekick and high-flying escort Belle de Jour.
Early-life:
Born Lianne Paul Piper on September 22, 1982, in Swindon, Wiltshire. Mum and dad Paul and Mandy changed her name three weeks after registering her birth. She has three younger siblings Charlie, Harley and Ellie. She attended Brookfield Primary School and Bradon Forest Secondary before joining the nationally famous ranks of the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.
Career:
After being talent spotted in Saturday morning ITV show Scratchy and Co, Piper signed a record contract at 15, and subsequently became the youngest ever artist to go straight to the top of the UK singles chart with Because We Want To. More hits followed and two successful albums before she quit music in 2003 to become an actress. Her early roles in The Canterbury Tales and one-off drama Bella and the Boys earned rave reviews. Her biggest break came in 2004 when it was announced she would be Doctor Who's companion Rose Tyler in the revived BBC sci-fi series. She's also appeared in The Ruby in the Smoke, Mansfield Park, The Shadow in the North and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
Quote:
'Weight doesn't matter as long as you're happy with yourself.'
Trivia:
Piper won the Princess of Pop gong at the 1998 Smash Hits Awards.