Billie Piper is set to star in an emotional new play about the tragedy of infertility.

Billie Piper

Billie Piper

The 33-year-old actress - who has sons Winston, seven and Eugene, four, with former husband Laurence Fox - will take the lead role in a modern adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca's 'Yerma', which follows a woman who is unable to have children and how it affects her.

'Yerma' also explores the damage infertility can do to a relationship and Billie called the play "hugely relevant".

She explained to the Daily Mail: "It is hugely relevant in our modern world of female pressure, expectations, and love lost as a result. ['Yerma'] is another sad yet beautiful observation of men and women, and the stuff that sets us apart."

Australian playwright Simon Stone has moved the setting from rural Spain to contemporary London and will also direct the production.

Although the protagonist becomes so obsessed with motherhood that it eventually leads her to commit a horrific crime, Billie insisted that it will "not be all tragedy".

'Yerma' will be staged at the Young Vic from July 28 to September 24, 2016.

Meanwhile, although Billie's professional life is flourishing, the actress has had some disappointments in her personal life and was granted a quickie divorce from her Laurence Fox this week.

Billie was awarded a decree nisi on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour in a legal ruling that took just 50 seconds at the Central Family Court.

District Judge Yvonne Gibson made the ruling on the basis the marriage had "irretrievably broken down" and that Billie found it "intolerable" to live with Laurence, 37.

The petition was filed in the starlet's full name Billie Paul Piper against Laurence Paul Fox. Neither of them were present for the hearing.

The former couple first met in 2006 when they performed together in the stage play 'Treats' and they went on to marry in December 2007.

Their split was confirmed back in March, when the actor-and-musician announced on his Facebook page the eight-year marriage was over.

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