Billie Piper worries over phone sex pic in show she says isn’t autobiographical

It’s an exciting time for Billie Piper, who has been famous since she had a No1 pop hit at aged 15, then pivoted to acting. This summer she has added another string to her bow, and moved behind the camera to co-create and produce new TV drama I Hate Suzie.

The Sky Atlantic series begins with an opening scene that could be a snapshot from Billie’s own extraordinary life.

It shows a teenage girl’s spine-tingling performance on a singing talent show, with the judge announcing: ‘You are going to be a star.’

It then cuts to 20 years later. Suzie Pickles – played by Billie – is now 35, and her career is flagging.

‘It’s interesting to see the losses that come with age for girls,’ says the actress about her character, who has taken a journey from child star to the doors being closed to her in adulthood.

‘She’s heading into that period where actresses take a nosedive in terms of opportunities,’ says Billie. ‘She’s on the wane.’

Suzie had a high-profile role as a kid but is now on a zombie show, and is surprised to have landed a part as a Disney Princess – an ageing one. ‘That’s the joke,’ she grimaces.

Asked where her own life and Suzie’s overlap, Billie, 37, admits, ‘This is not autobiographical, but a lot of my own feelings are there as a woman in her thirties.’

In the eight-part drama we see what happens when Suzie is the victim of phone-hacking, and images of her being intimate with a man who isn’t her husband are circulated on the internet.

‘My photos have never been hacked – but setting it in the world of being an actor creates a lot of drama, fun and entertainment,’ says Billie.

‘Everyone has a profile now: whoever you are, if your phone is found it could be so incriminating. Your entire life could be destroyed by a few innocent texts.’

Suzie’s immediate response to the hacking is to panic, hide her phone, turn off the wifi and keep up her megawatt smile at an excruciating photo shoot in her countryside home.

Each episode focuses on one stage of trauma – shock, denial, fear, shame, bargaining, guilt, anger and, finally, acceptance. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, often tense and sometimes weird insight into the reality of the fame game.

Fortunately there were plenty of opportunities for Billie to let off steam. She performs a musical number in the first episode, where Suzie waltzes down the middle of the street in her picture-perfect village wearing a fur coat and singing about missing city life and hating the smug, rich locals.

‘Even though the day was so tough, I enjoyed the end of episode one, dancing down the street, singing,’ she reveals.

‘I’m happy letting everyone know through the work that I’m actually a bit weird and everything came together with that.’

Billie and co-creator Lucy Prebble hand-picked their team, reuniting Billie with Executive Producer Julie Gardner, who she worked with on Doctor Who.

Billie also persuaded her sister Elly – who looks startlingly like her – to take a role. She plays her on-screen sister Archie in episode six, when Suzie makes a reluctant return home for Archie’s wedding.

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Billie PiperSky AtlanticTV drama