Lily Allen English singer-songwriter and actress Lily Allen at the Fashion Awards in London, 2025. (more) Lily Allen British singer-songwriter and actress Also known as: Lily Rose Beatrice Allen Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura PayneAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 10, 2026 •History Lily Allen (born May 2, 1985, London, England) is an English singer-songwriter and actress who first gained attention in the 2000s with her unique blend of pop, ska, and reggae, distinctive voice (brandishing an unvarnished English accent), and candid lyrics. After she began posting mixtapes and demos on Myspace, she gained a significant fan base, leading to her first album, Alright, Still, in 2006. Allen’s debut single “Smile” reached number one on the U.K. singles...

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