April 7th 2024.
Did you know that Billie Piper's wig on the Netflix drama Scoop cost a whopping five figures? Yes, you heard that right. The talented actress underwent a major transformation to portray the producer who landed the infamous Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew. Her character, Sam McAlister, was a force to be reckoned with and her striking appearance played a crucial role in the film.
To embody Sam, Billie had to wear a peroxide blonde, long, wavy wig that came with a hefty price tag of £11,000. And this revelation came during a Netflix interview between the Honey to the Bee singer and the real-life Sam herself. During the interview, Sam asked Billie about her experience of wearing the iconic Sam McAlister look and whether she got tired of wearing black every day. To which, Billie replied that she actually enjoyed it and it helped her get into character.
It's no surprise that Billie's portrayal of Sam was spot on, as she spent a lot of time with her both on and off set. Sam, who was also an executive producer on the project, even wrote the book that the film was based on. Billie considered her time with Sam as a gift for an actress and revealed that she didn't have access to many filmed appearances of Sam, so she spent a lot of time with her to perfect her mannerisms.
In the film, Billie's co-star Gillian Anderson portrays the BBC's Emily Maitlis, while Rufus Sewell underwent hours of make-up and prosthetics to become Prince Andrew. Sam also shared that she was most impressed by Billie's dedication to perfecting her bouncy walk, which she requested videos of. And it's true, you can see Sam's signature walk in several establishing shots as she strides into the BBC headquarters.
For Sam, the most memorable aspect of working with Billie was her ability to capture the energy and optimism that she brought to her job as a booker for Newsnight. In fact, Sam was so impressed by Billie's portrayal that she apologized for any knee pain she may have caused her with all the walking in heels.
The Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 was a turning point in his life, as it ultimately led to his retirement from royal life. He agreed to the interview in an attempt to clear the air about his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which went against the royal mantra of "never complain, never explain." And as we all know, the consequences of his comments were disastrous.
Scoop, which also stars Keeley Hawes as the royal's former private secretary Amanda Thirsk, is now available to stream on Netflix. And if you have a celebrity story or pictures, you can get in touch with The Agency entertainment team through email, phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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