Everyone has an opinion on Lily Allen – and they’re not all complimentary. Just look at her 5.5 million strong battlefield of Twitter followers. Since she first found an audience on MySpace in 2005 she has consistently spoken out about both the weighty and the trivial – from the music industry (“rife with sexual abuse”), #MeToo (“I think there are […] lots of people covering their ears and hoping this whole conversation will go away”) and politics (calling Donald Trump a “moron”) to Britney Spears (“a legend”). 

She has also, in her memoir My Thoughts Exactly, been heartbreakingly open about her experiences with drugs, mental health issues, relationship breakdowns, the loss of a child and a terrifying experience with a stalker. Being so frank has inspired, challenged and caused controversy. To some she’s a brave, progressive voice in a sea of blah; to the trolls, she dares to be a famous woman who uses her voice so she deserves every bit of vitriol she gets. 

It would be perfectly understandable for Lily to take cover behind a barrier of PRs, lawyers and image consultants, but she prefers to walk the walk of her most recent album title, No Shame, and speak out on, well, everything. So, rather than try to interview her, Stylist decided to let Lily fill in the gaps herself… 

The last time I cried was…

a couple of weeks ago.

If I could change one thing about my personality…

I would be chirpier.

The nicest thing anyone has ever said to me is…

“you are the best mummy in the whole wide world.”

The worst thing anyone has ever said to me is…

“oh my god you look like Lily Allen, no offence.”

My favourite meal of the day is…

all of them.

The last time I felt truly happy was…

yesterday.

The song that means the most to me is…

I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James.

The song I wish I’d never written is…

Air Balloon [from Lily’s third album, 2014’s Sheezus].

When I look in the mirror I…

obsess over whether to squeeze my spots or not.

On my bedside table you’ll find…

books and a lamp. 

The website I visit most often is…

Instagram.

The best thing about social media is…

insight into other people’s life experiences.

The worst thing about the internet is…

social media.

I’m most validated by…

The Grove Farmers Market parking [in Los Angeles].

I would like to say sorry to…

Europe.


If I could only be remembered for one thing it would be…

being a top don.


Britain would be a much better place if…

Piers Morgan left.

The best thing about being a mother is…

my children.

The technology I rely on the most is…

my car.

When I google myself I…

get sad.


My favourite place to write songs is…

in my studio.

The song I wish I’d written is…

Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson.

The best day of my life…

hasn’t happened yet.

The person I spend most time with is…

[my eldest daughter] Ethel Mary Cooper.

When drunk, I am…

annoying.

The person I’m most inspired by is…

[my manager] Seb Chew.

The book I’ve read the most is…

My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen.

If I were prime minister for the day I would…

break up the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The most important thing I teach my children is…

how to wipe their bum (front to back).

The song that makes me unconditionally happy is…

On A Ragga Tip by SL2. 

The film I’ve watched the most is…

Frozen.

Marriage is…

a contract between the government and/or god. Neither of which I believe in.

My favourite piece of art is…

my kids.

I collect…

flamingos/debt.

London would be a much better place if…

Ethel was queen.

Trolls are…

lols.

Without technology I…

would probably be happier but less successful.

The best breakfast is…

waffles.

I wish I could…

fly.


Love is…

profound AF.

As a child…

I was quiet.

I’m jealous of…

Kim Kardashian. 

You can read all of the articles from Lily Allen’s special guest edit of Stylist here.

Photography: Simon Emmett

Images: Instagram