Latest news with #BilliePiper
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Billie Piper ‘quite overwhelmed' to work with Tim Burton
Billie Piper has said she was thrilled to work with Tim Burton on the new series of Wednesday, describing the director as 'really childlike energetically'. Piper plays Isadora Capri, the new head of music at Nevermore Academy, in the second series of the hit Netflix show, which is set to air next month. Advertisement The drama, which centres around Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family, stars American Jenna Ortega in the lead role, and also features a number of British actresses including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dame Joanna Lumley and Piper. Speaking to Radio Times, Piper described the character of Capri as a 'really accomplished musician' with 'an interesting past of her own'. The actress told the magazine she was 'quite overwhelmed' to be working with Burton after admiring him for so long, and loved watching his films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie with her children. She added: 'I watched Beetlejuice so many times as a kid that I actually feel like it inspired the interiors in my house and the clothes I wear. I was fanatical.' Advertisement Doctor Who star Piper said she was 'grateful' to work with Burton. 'I realised I was dealing with someone who's really childlike energetically – open and engaging and fun,' she added. 'I love his energy. And that's what it feels like: like you're being painted into Tim Burton's piece of art, because it's a very specific composition a lot of the time, and it's striking.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billie Piper ‘quite overwhelmed' to work with Tim Burton on Netflix's Wednesday
Swindon-born Billie Piper has said she was "quite overwhelmed" to work with Tim Burton on the new Netflix series of Wednesday. Piper plays Isadora Capri, the new head of music at Nevermore Academy, in the second series of the hit show, which is set to air next month. The drama, which centres around Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family, stars Jenna Ortega in the lead role, and also features several British actresses including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dame Joanna Lumley and Piper. Speaking to Radio Times, Piper described the character of Capri as a 'really accomplished musician' with 'an interesting past of her own'. The actress told the magazine she was 'quite overwhelmed' to be working with Burton after admiring him for so long, and loved watching his films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie with her children. She added: 'I watched Beetlejuice so many times as a kid that I actually feel like it inspired the interiors in my house and the clothes I wear. I was fanatical.' Doctor Who star Piper, who attended Bradon Forest School in Purton until the age of 12, said she was 'grateful' to work with Burton. 'I realised I was dealing with someone who's really childlike energetically – open and engaging and fun,' she added. 'I love his energy. And that's what it feels like: like you're being painted into Tim Burton's piece of art, because it's a very specific composition a lot of the time, and it's striking.' Netflix announced earlier this year that Wednesday season 2 will be released in two parts in summer 2025. Recommended reading: Billie Piper stars in Netflix's Wednesday with Jenna Ortega Billie Piper confirmed as next Doctor in Doctor Who finale Billie Piper's pop star years and Chris Evans marriage Part 1 will be released on August 6, 2025, and Part 2 will follow on September 3, 2025. In the trailer for Wednesday Season 2, Part 1, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is back at Nevermore Academy and "facing fresh threats". Joanna Lumley joins the cast of Wednesday season 2 as Hester Frump, Wednesday's grandmother. The character is described as a "formidable and complex" matriarch within the Addams Family.
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Ncuti Gatwa teases Doctor Who return but admits show 'took a lot out of him'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fans have been in shock since Ncuti Gatwa's exit from the long-running BBC series Doctor Who, but regenerating doesn't mean it's the end. The (baffling) choice to have the Sex Education star transform into Billie Piper was met with a mixed response, including 'nostalgia bait' accusations. Many expressed wishes that Ncuti, 32, had been able to stay for longer and now, while speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he has given a glimmer of hope. 'Never say never,' he teased when asked if he would ever return, grinning wider and wider as the question hung in the air. Laura suggested that was a disguised yes 'with the right script', prompting laughter from the Barbie star. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Ncuti's 14th Doctor regenerated in May, marking the end of his tenure, which began with a historic 60-year anniversary episode alongside David Tennant. When asked why he walked away after just two (short) seasons, Ncuti explained: 'Because I'm getting old. My body was tired.' This prompted scoffs from the BBC reporter but the star continued: 'It's the most amazing job in the world. It's a job that any actor would dream of and because it's so good it's strenuous. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally. So, it was time.' The finale was met with a lot of controversy as fans complained about the treatment of the Doctor's companions. A number of fans aren't happy with how Belinda (Varada Sethu) was treated with some going so far as to say her character was 'butchered'. The episode saw her entire life rewritten 'without her consent', landing her with a child and a husband at the end, which was never part of her plot in the lead up. Other complaints included the 'confusing' plot surrounding Classic Who villain The Rani and Omega as well as the Billie Piper return. Billie, 42, is not thought to be an iteration of The Doctor but previously played companion Rose Tyler during Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's original runs. While disgruntled fans voice their opinions and optimistic theories, Ncuti has launched himself into other projects, including ballet and life on the stage. Ncuti has (temporarily) moved away from television and just completed a successful run in the National Theatre's Importance of Being Earnest. He is now performing in West End play Born With Teeth, a reimagining of the rivalry between Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. More Trending In the play, he reunites with Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel, 32, who recently appeared in the axed show My Lady Jane as well as Killing Eve. In the chat with Laura, Ncuti said he was 'very busy' of late, which had also prompted his decision to step down from his involvement with Eurovision. 'It all panned out very interestingly,' he shared. 'I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced. 'And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. I just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around the Doctor.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: This is the darkest scene in Doctor Who history and it's not even close MORE: It's been 16 years since the most 'disturbing' Doctor Who story ever MORE: LGBT+ ally Georgia Tennant admits 'the Pride flag feels heavier this June'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ncuti Gatwa quit Doctor Who for taking a ‘physical, emotional and mental' toll on him
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has revealed that he quit the show as the role was taking a toll on his body, both mentally and physically. The 32-year-old, Rwandan-Scottish actor, surprisingly departed the BBC sci-fi show earlier this year following the conclusion of his second season in the role. During his final episode, which was broadcast on 31 May, Gatwa's Doctor regenerated and appeared to be replaced by former Doctor Who star Billie Piper. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show (13 July), Gatwa admitted: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired… and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions. He added: 'It's the most amazing job in the world, a job that any actor would dream of and – because it's so good – it's strenuous. It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Barbie star Gatwa has played the Doctor since David Tennant's second run as the Time Lord bi-generated in 2023. Gatwa also addressed why he pulled out of being the UK's spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in May. Speculation had arisen that his decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition. 'It all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced', he said. And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. 'Just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around Doctor (Who).' Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa, who did not watch this year's competition, said: 'I was just very busy.' The actor appeared on the Sunday morning news show to discuss the West End premiere of Born With Teeth, a play that re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Gatwa plays Marlowe with his Sex Education co-star Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Company production at London's Wyndham's Theatre from August. 'It's a really great story between these two huge literary icons, and it's very exciting to imagine what could have happened in a room together', he said. Additional reporting by PA.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Doctor Who star, 32, left because ‘I'm getting old'
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has said he quit the long-running BBC show because 'I'm getting old and my body was tired'. The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 32, whose breakout role was Eric Effiong in Netflix hit Sex Education, played the Time Lord for two series. He first appeared in a 60th anniversary special with David Tennant, the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor. In May, during his final episode as the 15th Doctor, Gatwa appeared to be replaced by Billie Piper, the former Doctor Who companion, when his character regenerated. Gatwa, who appeared on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme with A Discovery of Witches actor Edward Bluemel, said: 'I'm getting old, and my body was tired... and I've now just started doing some ballet, so I'm making really great decisions.' Despite being 'the most amazing job in the world' and 'a job that any actor would dream of', it was 'strenuous', he said. 'It takes a lot out of you, physically, emotionally, mentally, and so it was time.' Asked if he would ever come back to the show, he said: 'Never say never.' Gatwa, who also featured in blockbuster film Barbie, has played the Doctor since Tennant's Time Lord 'bi-generated' in 2023. A BBC spokesman said at the time: 'While we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction.' Gatwa was also expected to be the UK's spokesman at the Eurovision Song Contest in May but pulled out, with speculation the decision was connected to controversy surrounding Israel's participation. The broadcaster offered no explanation for the change, blaming 'unforeseen circumstances'. Gatwa stayed silent at the time. But now he revealed that 'it all panned out very interestingly. I pulled out of it a long time before it was announced. And it was announced when it was announced, I don't know why, but I was just very busy. I just had a lot of work schedules, a lot of press around The Roses, around the Doctor (Who)'. Asked about the speculation surrounding his withdrawal, Gatwa said he did not watch this year's competition and that he 'was just very busy'.
