Billie Piper

Though her career as a singer sent Billie Piper to the top of the pop charts, she found even greater success as a television actress in her native England. Roles in several BBC television movies led to worldwide attention as Rose Tyler, companion to the Eighth and Ninth Doctor on the venerable science fiction series "Doctor Who" (BBC One, 1963-1984, 2005- ). After departing the program in 2006, she landed the plum and controversial role of a high-class escort in "The Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV2, 2007; Showtime, 2008-11).