Vegas wedding chapel in May 2001. That makes Evans, now 40, more than 16 years her senior.
The couple then enjoyed a year-long honeymoon travelling round the world and living for a while in LA. But, on their return to Blighty, Billie began to turn her ample attentions to acting with roles in low-budget Brit flicks such as Bella And The Boys and The Calcium Kid alongside Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, 29, and a much talked about TV performance as a bored housewife in The Miller's Tale, part of the BBC adaptation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Despite other gigs – namely as Hero in last year's BBC reworking of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and the currently in production movie, The Ruby in the Smoke – it's the role of Rose that has really put Billie, who split from Chris last year, on the map.
Daily Star TV Columnist Mike Ward says: "Personally, I'm gutted that she's leaving. But I think careerwise, the timing is perfect and the sky's the limit now.
"Through Doctor Who she has really established herself as a serious actress. Because of the nature of the show she's been able to show her versatility – playing comedy, adventure, love interest – and prove herself as an actress. People no longer see her as a former pop star or Chris Evans' missus, they accept her as the talented actress she is.
"She's stayed in the show for a good run but going now will avoid typecasting. I believe she's on course for very big things."
Caption: GLAMOURPUSS: Billie shows us she's no longer the scruffy teenager who first shot to fame, but a stunning sex kitten.
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