Billie Paul Piper (born 22 September 1982) is an award-winning English actress, known for her trademark blonde hair and dark eyebrows. She was originally named Lianne Piper, but this was then changed to Billie shortly afterwards. In 1999, Piper was nominated for two BRIT Awards and was named Best Female Star at the Smash Hits Poll Winners' party. In November 2005, Piper starred as Hero in a BBC adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. Piper has completed work on two stand-alone television productions. In the first, a BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's historical novel The Ruby in the Smoke broadcast in December 2006.