# Whovians: Are Billie Piper and Catherine Tate supposed to be attractive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387 "2008-11-12T18:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/21 "2008-11-12T20:51:50Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I was going to say Catherine Tate is not really that great looking. In the show she basically looks like a frumpy not completely unattractive, slightly bottomheavy middle aged woman. [Then I found this photo and had to reassess.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybergypsy/522319966/) Dear God, it’s Boobarella! BOOBS! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/22 "2008-11-12T20:54:05Z")
Catherine Tate. Do not want. Billie Piper. Want! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/23 "2008-11-12T20:56:01Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Dear God, it’s Boobarella! BOOBS! Yes, apparently like the TARDIS, they are bigger on the inside (I know that doesn’t make any sense, it just sounds funny). ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/24 "2008-11-12T21:00:49Z")
Billie Piper, as a Companion, _is_ supposed to be attractive–in a working class sort of way. She dressed down & wore too much eye makeup on _Who_ & has looked better in other roles. Catherine Tate became a beloved Companion because of her character’s spirit; she went from annoying to Amazing. She may be no great beauty, but she’s hardly “shapeless.” I’m a straight female, but wonder about your disdain for women on British TV. Guess you never met [Leela](http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/Images/sitegraphics/leela.jpg), a Companion of the wonderful 4th Doctor. Outside the Whovian universe–what about [Emma Peel](http://j9marshall.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/emma-peel.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/25 "2008-11-12T21:02:13Z")
I’m kinda glad I didn’t start a thread entitled “Is David Tennant supposed to be attractive?” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/26 "2008-11-12T21:07:44Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I’m a straight female, but wonder about your disdain for women on British TV. Guess you never met [Leela](http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/Images/sitegraphics/leela.jpg), a Companion of the wonderful 4th Doctor. > > Outside the Whovian universe–what about [Emma Peel](http://j9marshall.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/emma-peel.jpg)? Leela was alright. Jo was very cute. Emma Peel is a goddess. She helped erase my Huh? reactions to the women who populated a typical episode of Secret Agent. Of course, I’ve been spoiled by American women, both on screen and in real life. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/27 "2008-11-12T21:54:28Z")
Billie-yes please! Freema- Also yes thank you! Catharine -don’t know her well enough, but pretty. Also, Eve Myles (yes I know not Doctor Who but connected so it counts) is very yummy. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/28 "2008-11-12T22:05:36Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I’m kinda glad I didn’t start a thread entitled “Is David Tennant supposed to be attractive?” If it had been John Barryman a certain colleague of mine would have climbed through the monitor and ripped your head off. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/29 "2008-11-12T22:31:42Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > If it had been John Barryman a certain colleague of mine would have climbed through the monitor and ripped your head off. In either his or Tennant’s case I have to answer to my daughters. :eek: Eve Myles is one of those “objectively not exceptional but there’s something about her” people for me. Perhaps my remark on figures has something to do with the climates of Great Britain (cold and damp with lots of need for clothing) and Southern California, home of most of American TV, but living where I do (Cold? You Brits don’t know the MEANING of cold!) I’ve learned to adjust my perceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/30 "2008-11-12T22:37:04Z")
Making use of my limited knowledge of popular culture - Unabomer = Canada right? No. Chicago. p.s. Shouldn’t it be ‘Unabom **b** er’? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/31 "2008-11-12T22:47:02Z")
Specifically, Lombard, Illinois. He lived with his mother on the other side of town and traces of bomb fixin’s were found in her shed. The case’s FBI code name was **UN** iversity and **A** irline **BOM** ber. Both “Unabomer” and “Unabomber” are acceptable, but I went with the earlier name. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/32 "2008-11-13T00:57:10Z")
Heterosexual woman checking in. While I don’t think Billie Piper is beautiful, she’s definitely got the x factor down. When she’s on screen, you can’t keep your eyes off of her, even though she has some obvious imperfections, such as protruding teeth. (Why DO Brits resist orthodontia?) Anyway, I definitely get the attraction. She reminds me of a modern day Pattie Boyd, the muse of both Eric Clapton and George Harrison. She looked a lot like Piper, IMO, right down to the narrow upper palate. But she most definitely turned heads and inspired some really impressive tributes (if you don’t know, I mean Harrison’s “Something” and Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and “Layla.”) So while it’s hard to peg down what is it exactly that makes them so sexy, it’s clearly not just looks because there are other more beautiful women around (e.g. Elizabeth Hurley), who aren’t as sexy. Whatever is is, they possess(ed) it, in spades. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/33 "2008-11-13T01:09:44Z")
Missed the edit window. Here’s a picture of Boyd: [http://members.fortunecity.com/pattiboyd/images/george/islewight.jpg](http://members.fortunecity.com/pattiboyd/images/george/islewight.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/34 "2008-11-13T02:58:22Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > While I don’t think Billie Piper is beautiful, she’s definitely got the x factor down. When she’s on screen, you can’t keep your eyes off of her, even though she has some obvious imperfections, such as protruding teeth. (Why DO Brits resist orthodontia?) I have to confess, the teeth are part of what I find irresistibly cute about Billie (in addition to her eyebrows). I am, however, a bit disturbed by the fact that she’s been intimate with [Chris Evans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evans_(presenter)). _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/35 "2008-11-13T03:16:28Z")
Piper: At least at first, I found her somewhat unattractive due more to the character’s personality than any physical qualities. As the character grew on me, so did my opinion of her beauty. If I look at her in isolation, without thinking about Rose at all–she’s quite attractive. Agyeman: Quite lovely. Better still when she doesn’t wear her hair pulled back as severely as Martha usually did. Tate: While there’s something rather plain about her, she’s far from unattractive, particularly as the character moves away from her genesis as the Bride. Tennant: Oh -gawd- yes. Barrowman: Ditto. He’s like Tom Cruise, but not batshit crazy and actually a pretty nice guy to boot. Sexier on Who than Torchwood, though; the character tends to have a certain joie de vivre on Who that is conspicuously absent from Torchwood. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/36 "2008-11-13T03:26:39Z")
> [@Gotterfunken](#): > > I am, however, a bit disturbed by the fact that she’s been intimate with [Chris Evans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evans_(presenter)). _shudder_ I was horribly confused about your post, thinking “What? He’s a fairly decent looking-guy and he wasn’t terrible in the Fantastic Four movies…” and then I realized you were talking about [Chris Evans](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262632/), not [Chris Evans](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262635/). :smack: Back on topic: Billie Piper: Pretty! Freema Agyeman: Sex on legs. Catherine Tate: Boooobiiiiies. (Also, Donna is distilled awesome, so step off.) John Barrowman is certainly stunning, but God bless him, it’s like the scenery is a five-course meal. David Tennant is one of my top crushes ever. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/37 "2008-11-13T04:05:18Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I was going to say Catherine Tate is not really that great looking. In the show she basically looks like a frumpy not completely unattractive, slightly bottomheavy middle aged woman. Speaking as a slightly frumpy middle-aged _man_, Catherine Tate looks great. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/38 "2008-11-13T04:10:10Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > David Tennant is one of my top crushes ever. You might like [David Tennant as Hamlet](http://www.flickfilosopher.com/blog/2008/05/because_i_can_david_tennant_as.html), then… ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/39 "2008-11-13T12:51:14Z")
I think Catherine Tate is a gifted actress and a well put together woman. But the character she played in Dr Who was different from the love sick girlies that Piper and Agyeman played. I would imagine that if love sick girlies are attractive to you, then you’ll find Billie and Freema hot and if you are more turned on by challenging, bossy women, Catherine would be your pick. As for Tennent, I think he gets more like a stick insect with every passing year. A stick insect with far too many teeth. He was pretty sexy in “Secret Smile”, a drama on British telly a few years ago where he was one scary sod. And he was very easy on the eye in “Casanova”, but he’s just got too thin, now. Eat up, David, there’s a good chap. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whovians-are-billie-piper-and-catherine-tate-supposed-to-be-attractive/472387/40 "2008-11-13T12:57:37Z")
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