SHE may have been wowing audiences across the country with her acting skills, but Billie Piper's certainly has picked up a few admirers along the way.

And the Swindon born star, pictured above, has just been named among the World's 100 sexiest women, as voted for by the readers of FHM, narrowly missing out on a place in the top ten.

This year's poll received nearly two million votes from the British public, who voted the 23-year-old, currently starring in Doctor Who alongside David Tennant, to number 11.

The number one spot was filled by British actress Keira Knightley, left.

FHM editor Ross Brown said: "FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World is growing year by year and 2006 has seen more votes than ever.

"Keira Knightley truly deserves to be the winner of our 2006 poll and she's an English Rose like no other."

Since Billie took a role in the BBC's modern version of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the former Bradon Forest School pupil's acting career has gone from strength to strength.

Billie landed the role of Rose Tyler, Doctor Who's assistant, in 2005, a role that has won her critical acclaim.

And she proved to be so popular with viewers that she won Most Popular Actress at November's National Television Awards.

It is also rumoured that she is being lined up for a major role in the new ITV adaptation of Mansfield Park.

She is understood to be in talks with the TV company about taking the role of Fanny Price.

Mansfield Park will form part of ITV's Jane Austen season, which will also feature Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and its 1997 film Emma, starring Kate Beckinsale and Samantha Morton.

Billie's number 11 spot in the chart is an improvement of 51 places, from last year's number 62. FHM said: "Billie's taken everyone by surprise the last time we looked she was a toothy bundle of hair in a pub garden with Chris Evans; now she's a gorgeous prime-time goddess with her own action figure."

This summer she is scheduled to film new BBC drama The Ruby in the Smoke, based on the Philip Pullman novel.

Billie will return for a third series of Doctor Who, although she is expected to bow out early in order to juggle other projects.

FHM's 100 Sexiest Supplement is in the June edition, on sale now.

Beauties who made the grade

The top 20 list of the sexiest women, voted for by readers of FHM magazine: 1 Keira Knightley 2 Keeley Hazell 3 Scarlett Johansson 4 Angelina Jolie 5 Kelly Brook 6 Cheryl Tweedy 7 Beyonce Knowles 8 Evangeline Lilly 9 Jessica Alba 10 Jessica Simpson 11 Billie Piper 12 Sienna Miller 13 Lindsay Lohan 14 Rachel Stevens 15 Sarah Harding 16 Jennifer Love Hewitt 17 Halle Berry 18 Jennifer Aniston 19 Fearne Cotton 20 Eva Longoria