Former Sex Worker Who Inspired the TV Show "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" Reveals Identity

A British scientist has come forth to reveal that she is Belle de Jour, the anonymous blogger whose stories of life as a call girl were turned into the television series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl." The woman's identity had been a well-kept secret for many years. On Sunday, however, Dr. Brooke Magnanti revealed the truth about herself because she was afraid that an ex-boyfriend would expose her.

Magnanti, 34, is a specialist in developmental neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology in a hospital research group at the University of Bristol in western England. She turned to the sex trade in 2003 while finishing up her Ph.D. when she ran out of money.

Magnanti told the Sunday Times of London that when she could no longer pay the rent, she asked herself:

"What can I do that I can start doing straightaway, that doesn't require a great deal of training or investment to get started, that's cash in hand and that leaves me spare time to do my work in?"

She revealed that she worked as a $450 per hour call girl for an escort agency for more than a year, and decided to keep an online diary. This online diary forms the basis of three books and the TV series starring actress Billie Piper, which airs in the UK and on Showtime in the US.

The Belle de Jour's identity has been a mystery ever since it hit the web four years ago. Some believed that it was fake and the work of a professional author. Magnanti says that her colleagues have been "amazingly kind and supportive" about the news, and adds that she has no regrets over her 14 months as a hooker.

"I've felt worse about my writing than I ever have about sex for money," she said.