Research scientist unmasks herself as a call girl in her past

[SLIGONIAN]

Hard to believe her background, caught some of this programme on tv, interesting life story all the same. Can never understand why women choose to be call girls, but materialism and money is so important to them. I know some are forced but this woman was heading for a good job.



THE employers of a research scientist who unmasked herself as a call girl-turned-popular author are standing by her, saying that her past had nothing to do with her present job.

After much digging by journalists and fans it emerged that 'Belle de Jour' is Brooke Magnanti, a petite, blonde thirty-something who works as a specialist in developmental neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology in a hospital research group in Bristol, south west England.

A month ago she revealed her secret to her colleagues at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health, who were "amazingly kind and supportive".

Dr Magnanti, who is based at St Michael's Hospital in Bristol and employed by the University of Bristol, unmasked herself as the literary world's best-kept secret after admitting in her online blog that she felt "worse" about her writing than about her life as a prostitute.

Barry Taylor, a university spokesman, said: "This aspect of her past bears no relevance to her role at the university."

Dr Magnanti was a PhD student working on her thesis at Sheffield University when she decided that prostitution would be a quick, easy and relatively painless way to earn some cash.

For 14 months from October 2003 she recorded her sexual encounters in her online blog with a frankness, humour and style that won her many admirers and led to a six-figure book deal.

Sceptics

It inspired the ITV drama, 'The Secret Diary of a Call Girl', starring Billie Piper, the former pop star and 'Doctor Who' actress. Dr Magnanti said it was a relief to emerge from the shadows of anonymity that had meant that she could not even go to her own book launch.

Ms Magnanti wrote: "It feels so much better on this side. Not to have to tell lies, hide things from the people I care about -- to be able to defend what my experience of sex work is like to all the sceptics and doubters."

She said she took advantage of the opportunity presented by a "perfect storm of feelings and circumstances".

She is believed to have decided to out herself after reporters from a UK newspaper turned up at the hospital she works at.

Realising that the game was up she approached the 'Sunday Times' and gave an interview to India Knight, who had previously suggested her book was fiction and written by a man.

Dr Magnanti bears a close resemblance to the French actress Catherine Deneuve, who starred in the 1967 film from which she borrowed her pen name. (© The Times, London)

- Simon de Bruxelles in London

Irish Independent

[Cúig huaire]

Read this in yesterdays Sunday Times, I suppose it beats the oul student loan.
She wouldnt have been getting £300 from me for an hours "work".

[Denn Forever]

Scientist just want to be loved.

[Doogie Browser]

Read this in yesterdays Sunday Times, I suppose it beats the oul student loan.
She wouldnt have been getting £300 from me for an hours "work".

Cúig you could re-negotiate for your 30 seconds I think you would owe her £2.50 

[lynchbhoy]

the pic of her on the front page of one of sundays papers was a lot better than the one on this thread.
Interesting story alright !

[Puckoon]

Fair play to her! A phd stipend sucks!

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

[Puckoon]

Have any of you read the book?

I have it from a good source that some of the stuff in the book is quite brutally honest.

She has a penchant for torches....This shining light of academia.

[pintsofguinness]

Have any of you read the book?

I have it from a good source that some of the stuff in the book is quite brutally honest.

She has a penchant for torches....This shining light of academia.

Does she go in to much detail?

[Puckoon]

I believe she has three books written.

I think she does, the quote I got was

"Shes one naughty naughty girl"

[bennydorano]

f**k sake lads where have you been - did none of you watch the Secret Diary of a Call Girl on ITV2?  Billie Piper played the Belle De Jour role, was  a bit risque for ITV, there has been 2 series, not sure if there's a third. Billie got them out too.

Can never understand why women choose to be call girls, but materialism and money is so important to them. I know some are forced but this woman was heading for a good job.

Maybe they enjoy it? 

[Orior]

This is probably for a "Most embarrassing moment" thread, but when I was aout 7 or 8 and watching the 6 o'clock news with my parents and siblings I asked "Dad, what's a call-girl?"

I seem to remember my elder siblings giggling and my Dad saying its just a girl you call up to talk with.

[Cúig huaire]

Shes not exactly £300 an hour material, more of a ten to twoer, but each to their own.