Billie Piper says City Of Tiny Lights shows ‘the real London I love’

Billie Piper says she is looking forward to showing London as the “modern and diverse” capital she loves in her big-screen return.

The best actress winner at last year’s London Evening Standard Theatre Awards stars opposite Rogue One’s Riz Ahmed in City Of Tiny Lights, set in west London.

It is Piper’s first film since 2005, and its director Pete Travis praises her for “[going] to places I’m not sure she’s been before. She was really brave.”

Ahmed plays deadbeat private eye Tommy Akhtar whose investigations into a missing sex worker uncover a secret city peopled by drug dealers, religious extremists and London characters.

One of these is femme fatale Shelley, played by Piper, a childhood friend of Akhtar’s who returns after a 20-year absence.

The actress, 34, said: “When I read the script, I fell in love with the fact that it shows London complete with all its many colours and cultures — the real, modern, diverse London I know and love, so often lost in TV dramas and Hollywood movies.” She said she had long wanted to act with Ahmed: “Riz is a beautiful actor. Seriously skilful, smart and a laugh. It was a joy.”

The movie, adapted from Patrick Neate’s 2006 novel of the same name, will be released on April 7.

Since Piper’s last film, 2005 British horror Spirit Trap, the actress has starred in several TV series. But it has been on stage where she has found most acclaim with hit plays, including Yerma at the Young Vic, for which she won her Evening Standard award.

Ahmed, 34, says a film which reflects the reality of modern London is well overdue: “I think our most exciting stories are happening right now. They are ahead of us.”

City Of Tiny Lights is set for UK cinema release on April 7.

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