Tag Archives: secret diary of a call girl

The Real Life “Secret Diary Of A Call Girl” Brooke Magnanti Wrote A Book About Sexonomics

Jessica WakemanApril 13, 2011 //

In November 2009, Dr. Brooke Magnanti bravely outed herself as the “Belle du Jour,” a former sex worker whose blog Diary of a London Call Girl went on to become a smash hit book and Showtime TV series, “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” A specialist in neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology, Dr. Magnanti only revealed herself to be Belle because an ex-boyfriend was threatening to do it for her out of spite. She had worked as a prostitute in 2003 and 2004 to support herself while finishing up her doctorate.

These days, the 35-year-old research scientist at Bristol University is penning another book, this time under her own name. Sexonomics: An Examination of Third-Wave Feminism Through the Prism of the Sex Trade will be published in spring 2012. Keep reading »

Billie Piper On “Secret Diary Of A Call Girl,” Sex Work And Feminism

Jessica WakemanApril 12, 2011 //

“When I first started playing [Belle/Hannah], when I first read the script, I found it very hard to believe that those kind of women in that profession really [could be feminists]. I was quite judgmental about it. I thought ‘I’m not entirely sure that there’s any way that you could be that way and feel liberated and independent and call yourself an out-and-out feminist.’ It’s a very gray area. What happens with the character of Belle is that it starts off being, ‘This is who I am, this is what I am, it’s all fine, I’m in control,’ to feeling like she questions her ideas of feminism, and mostly down to the relationships that she forms with Ben and other people. It’s something she starts to question more and more. Actually nowadays, it’s really hard to define feminism in a way, because it’s hard saying ‘we’re strong women, we’re career women, we make our own cash, and [yet] we wear provocative clothes, and say provocative things,’ and the whole idea feels slightly flawed now to some extent. … It is a massive kind of compromise. In one breath it’s like ‘this is my life’ and, on the surface, very enviable, but it would take a certain kind of person to be able to do that as a profession.”

— Billie Piper, who plays Hannah/high-class prostitute Belle on “Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” on being called out by her boyfriend Ben’s mom about not being a good feminist. Do you agree with her? [TV Squad] Keep reading »

Do You Harbor A Secret Fantasy Of Becoming An Escort?

Jessica WakemanJanuary 21, 2011 //

Call girls: they’re talented writers! First there was Dr. Brooke Magnanti, whose identity only became known after her blog, Diary of a London Call Girl, became wildly famous and spawned a book and TV series. Now there’s an anonymous East Coast-based woman going by the nom de plume “Charlotte Shane.”

“Charlotte Shane” pens a blog called Nightmare Brunette about her experiences in sex work. In a stellar piece on Salon.com, “Charlotte” explains she tries her hardest not to glamorize prostitution like Hollywood. “I never intend to glamorize my profession, and I don’t list expensive gifts I receive or lavish items I buy for myself,” she wrote. “I avoid rhapsodizing about exotic vacations or name-dropping hotels. I never disclose my rates and I don’t claim every encounter ends in mind-blowing orgasms — or any orgasm at all. That type of sensationalistic hype is really only good for selling books or selling face time on TV shows, neither of which I’m interested in.” She tries to be honest about what working as an escort really is: a job. Keep reading »

“Secret Diary Of A Call Girl,” The Movie?

Jessica WakemanJune 11, 2010 //

Be still, my heart: “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” might be a made into a movie! Actress Billie Piper told the U.K.’s Sun newspaper that the Showtime show will end after four seasons, but that may not be it for her character Hannah/Belle. “I’m about to start filming the fourth series and then that will be it,” she said. “I’m not sure it has legs past four seasons so we’re trying to develop a movie.” Do it, Billie! Quit while you’re ahead. I’d be first in line when Belle hits the big screen. [The Sun] Keep reading »

Remote Control: What You’ll Want To Watch The Week Of February 22nd 2010

Kate Torgovnick/Kate-Book.comFebruary 22, 2010 //

There is no messing with the ratings juggernaut known as the Olympics, which means that most shows are in rerun mode this week. But never fear—there are a few new, exciting things happening on the small screen. After the jump, a few shows you won’t want to miss. Keep reading »

And The Prize Goes To … The Best Secret For Good Sex

Catherine StrawnJanuary 29, 2010 //

Last Friday, we asked you what top-secret tip makes your bedroom romps so amazing in exchange for the season one and two DVDs of Showtime’s “Secret Diary of A Call Girl” and the book the series was based on. You had some sage advice (don’t worry, we’ll share the exhaustive reader wisdom next week), but Alex’s answer made so much sense to us that we think we might have to give up pajamas for good: Keep reading »

Frisky Review: “Secret Diary Of A Call Girl,” Season 3

Jessica WakemanJanuary 25, 2010 //

“Secret Diary of a Call Girl” is back on the air tonight at 10 p.m. and lucky me, some angel at Showtime mailed The Frisky offices a screener of Season 3. Woo-hoo!

When we last left off, Belle ditched her lame boyfriend, who wasn’t supportive of her career, and published her first book about life as a high-class hooker. And because no good series goes without a tease, Belle and her best friend, Ben, kept jerking us around with their will-they-or-won’t-they? thing. On season three, Belle is at work on her second book and we finally get the Ben/Belle relationship. Well, almost … Keep reading »

Win This! “Secret Diary Of A Call Girl” DVD Sets And Book

The FriskyJanuary 22, 2010 //

Some occupations seem so incomprehensible that we’d like to follow around the people who hold down those jobs to find out what their workdays really entail. Among those we’d like to shadow are prostitutes, private investigators, and Heidi Montag. Thankfully, a call girl wrote about her day-to-day life in the book Secret Diary of A Call Girl, so we don’t have to wonder about one of those three occupations any longer! The book was written by a formerly anonymous London escort now known to be a researcher who paid for her Ph.D. by sleeping with men who spent about $500 for her services.

WIN THIS! The third season of the TV series “Secret Diary of A Call Girl,” based on the sexcapades of “Belle,” comes to Showtime Feb. 1. We don’t want you to be behind, so we’re giving away the season one and two DVDs, the book, and a monthly planner so you can get your bedroom romps in order. But you have to work if you want them! Send an email to contests@thefrisky.com with the subject line “Secret Diary” telling us your secret for good sex by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28. We’ll pick our favorite response and announce the winner on Friday, Jan. 29. You must live in the U.S. or Canada to win. Good luck! Keep reading »

“Secret Diary Of A Call Girl”‘s Billie Piper Interviews The Real Belle de Jour

SimchaJanuary 20, 2010 //


“Secret Diary Of A Call Girl” star Billie Piper is about to get down and dirty with the real Belle de Jour, in a one-on-one interview. And obvi, nothing is taboo! The juicy special airs Monday, Jan. 25, at 10 p.m. (EST) on Showtime. Best part is, it’s just a tease! The new season finally starts Feb. 1. But in the meantime, we got a special sneak peek of what’s in store as the bona fide Belle dishes the deets on her first client.
Keep reading »

Quotable: Billie Piper Takes Her Work Home With Her

Jessica WakemanJanuary 4, 2010 //

“It’s funny. When [my husband] Laurence and I go out into the countryside, I think a few of the older locals actually believe I’m a whore … They follow him around, they want to mother him …Then they look at me and are like, ‘That slag! How could you dirty yourself with her? She’s corrupted you.’”

—Billie Piper, star of “Secret Diary Of A Call Girl” [Daily Mail]
Keep reading »

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