Curls and all, Billie Piper’s new look as she stars in Netflix film about Prince Andrew’s infamous interview
- The actress plays the role of Sam McAlister in the Netflix film Scoop
- Film tells the story in detail behind the interview with the disgraced Duke of York
The long, wavy blonde locks are unknown and the Gucci sunglasses mask her expression.
So fans may have a hard time recognizing Billie Piper in her latest on-screen role for the Netflix film Scoop.
The actress stars as Sam McAlister, the glamorous Newsnight producer who secured Prince Andrew’s infamous 2019 interview with Emily Maitlis, played by 55-year-old Gillian Anderson.
In the new photos, Ms Piper, 41, is seen on set wearing a fake Zara fur vest and a leather blouse adorned with a Chanel brooch, while holding a takeaway Starbucks coffee.
The film tells in detail the story behind the interview with the disgraced Duke of York, played by Rufus Sewell, 56.
Billie Piper (above) stars in the new Netflix film Scoop as TV producer Sam McAlister
Mrs McAlister (left) said ‘the attention to detail was incredible’ when they turned Mrs Piper (right) into her
McAlister (above) is the glamorous Newsnight producer who secured Prince Andrew’s infamous 2019 interview with Emily Maitlis
Ms McAlister said ‘the attention to detail was incredible’ when they turned the actress into her.
When she was on set with Ms. Piper, crew members could not tell the two women apart.
Essential to the look was a wig with her signature blonde curls. Mrs McAlister said: “They felt my hair, took pictures and turned it into something for Billie. I saw it hanging there on the set and it had taken on a life of its own.’
She revealed how the wardrobe team visited her home in west London to take some of her clothes so they could buy or even make versions that would be exactly the same for Mrs Piper.
As well as finding lookalikes for Ms McAlister’s extra-long black River Island jeans and animal print Topshop boots, they have also recreated the Zara waistcoat she bought a decade ago while waiting for an interview with Julian Assange.
They also took a Tom Ford and Primark lip gloss from her make-up bag to get the right color for Mrs Piper.
Emily Maitlis is played by Gillian Anderson in the film, due out this spring
The film tells in detail the story behind the interview with the disgraced Duke of York, played by Rufus Sewell
Ms McAlister was grateful the former pop star could walk well. “She’s practiced that a lot,” Ms. McAlister said. ‘That was very important to me.’
Photos released by Netflix show the West London set where the interview was recreated with a mock-up of Buckingham Palace.
A source said: ‘The level of detail in getting the set right was second to none. They wanted an exact replica and they achieved that.’
The film is due out this spring and also stars Amanda Redman as Ms McAlister’s mother Netta and Keeley Hawes as Amanda Thirsk, the prince’s ex-publicist.