The prostitute whose experiences inspired the TV series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" has revealed herself as a research scientist at a British university.

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Dr. Brooke Magnanti, 34, a University of Bristol researcher who wrote books and keeps a blog under her Belle de Jour persona, said she revealed her identity because hiding her past as a prostitute had become too stressful and she feared a former boyfriend was planning to out her, The Mirror reported Monday.

"I don't want this massive secret over me anymore," said Magnanti, whose books inspired the ITV2 series, which airs on Showtime in the United States.

Magnanti said her decision was also related to recent comments by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, who said Belle de Jour created a "myth" of sex workers empowered by their hold over men.

"You can't say I'm not real because here I am," Magnanti said. She said some sex workers have "terrible experiences" but she had been "unbelievably fortunate" during her time in the industry.