Doctor Who star Billie Piper joins “deeply moving” true story film with A-list cast including beloved Oscar winner

Billie Piper, famous for her role in Doctor Who, is joining the cast of the new movie Elsinore. She’ll be acting alongside Andrew Scott and Academy Award winner Olivia Colman, who are already set to star.

The drama, which recently started filming across the UK, has added Piper to its cast. She joins other well-known actors like Johnny Flynn (known for Ripley), Luke Thompson (Bridgerton), Monica Dolan (Mr Bates Vs The Post Office), Juliet Stevenson (Reawakening), Joe Locke (Heartstopper), Adeel Akhtar (Sherwood), and Peter Mullan (I Swear).

The cast also includes Matthew Beard, known for his work in “The Testament of Ann Lee,” David Dawson from “The Last Kingdom,” Kadiff Kirwan of “Slow Horses,” and Dickie Beau, who appeared in “What It Feels Like For A Girl.”

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Simon Stone, known for directing Piper in the Olivier Award-winning play Yerma and also for his work on The Woman in Cabin 10, will direct the film. The screenplay is written by Stephen Beresford, who wrote Pride.

The movie is a true story about Scottish actor Ian Charleson, portrayed by Scott, and his challenging journey preparing for his role as Hamlet at London’s National Theatre.

Actor Charleson starred in famous films like Gandhi and Chariots of Fire. He died in 1990, four years after being diagnosed with HIV. He asked for his cause of death to be revealed after he was gone, making him the first UK celebrity whose death was publicly linked to AIDS.

His last and most celebrated performance was as Hamlet, which he played from October 9th to November 13th, 1989. This occurred while he was very ill and only eight weeks before he passed away.

We know Scott will play Charleson and Colman will be his doctor, but the roles of other actors haven’t been announced yet. However, the cast is full of incredibly talented performers.

When the film was first announced in December 2025, Stone described it as the most exciting project of her career.

He praised Stephen Beresford’s script as both deeply moving and funny, calling it a lovely tribute to the strength of community during difficult times. He also highlighted Andrew Scott’s exceptional talent, comparing him to the legendary Ian Charleson and describing the casting as a brilliant choice.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is TopMob’s Senior Film Writer, covering new movies in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed all kinds of films.

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2026-01-12 18:34