British pop star Lily Allen shared on a recent episode of the “Radio Times” podcast that she believes having children “ruined” her career, though she expressed it with a laugh, emphasizing, “It really annoys me when people say you can have it all, because — quite frankly — you can’t.”
Allen, who has two children, Ethel Mary (12) and Marnie Rose (11), with her former husband Sam Cooper, initially gained fame with her 2006 hit single “Smile,” which topped the U.K. charts. Her debut album, “Alright Still,” received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album in 2008.
Reflecting on her decision to “step back” from music, Allen cited her upbringing as the child of parents involved in the entertainment industry. Her father is actor Keith Allen, her mother is film producer Alison Owen, and her brother is “Game of Thrones” actor Alfie Allen.
During the podcast episode, Allen also announced the upcoming launch of her own podcast, “Miss Me?,” set to debut on Thursday.
While her most recent album, “No Shame,” was released in 2018, Allen mentioned in 2019 that she was working on a concept album and two musicals.
In addition to her music career, Allen has ventured into acting, which she partly attributed to the current “political climate.” She received a nomination for best actress at the 2022 Olivier Awards for her West End debut in “2:22 Ghost Story.”
In 2020, Allen married “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour, and the couple resides together in New York City.