Billie Piper

Billie Piper is back with a second season of the British series Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Sundays, 10:30 pm/ET, Showtime), in which Hannah — aka Belle, her working-girl alter ego — navigates a "real" relationship and encounters new women in her field. Piper, a former pop star, veteran of Jane Austen movies (Mansfield Park) and new mom, still treats her controversial role with wide-eyed curiosity. TVGuide.com spoke to her about her research into the world of prostitution, the overseas controversy surrounding the sexy show and which scene it was that made her feel "strange" to film.

Billie Piper is getting ready to dress up, strip down and get paid to fulfill men's fantasies between the sheets — on screen, at least. In Showtime's Secret Diary of Call Girl, the U.K. native and new mother has her hands full as a high-end escort in London, walking the line between her public persona as Hannah and her private profession, where clients know her as Belle.

Piper, who began her career in England as a pop star, has tackled a range of roles since segueing into acting, from Fanny Price in Mansfield Park to Rose Tyler in Doctor Who. At the start of her second season as Belle (Secret Diary premieres Sunday, Jan. 18/10:30 pm/ET), TVGuide.com caught up with her to find out where Hannah's exploits will pick up, if her character will ever find love and how Piper will bring  even more to the show for Season 3. Stay tuned for Part II of our chat with her next week.

Read the Brit beauty's complete take on the recast — as well as the rumor that she herself would play Doctor — after the jump. read more 24 Comments