Piper has completed work on a BBC version of Philip Pullman 's historical novel The Ruby in the Smoke broadcast in December 2006 , Piper played main character Sally Lockhart , a Victorian orphan . Piper has completed work on two stand-alone television productions . In the first , a BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman 's historical novel The Ruby in the Smoke broadcast in December 2006 , Piper played protagonist Sally Lockhart , a Victorian orphan .