Beside the seaside
Lily Allen on landing her first TV role and being back on home shores
She’s wowed us over the years with her music – now Lily Allen is making her TV debut after impressing theatre critics with her role in West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story. The Smile singer, 37, has landed the role of Mel in new Sky Original comedy-drama Dreamland. She stars alongside former Doctor Who companion Freema Agyeman, who plays Mel’s pregnant sister Trish.
Acting is in Lily’s blood – her dad Keith recently appeared in Midsomer Murders and Marcella, while her brother Alfie is best known for his role on Game Of Thrones as Theon Greyjoy. Even Lily’s husband David Harbour, 47, has had success on TV and is famous for playing Sheriff Hopper in Stranger Things.
The star even embraced the early mornings. “I get up at 5am anyway, even when I’m not working so it was actually quite nice,” says Lily, who spends most of her time in NewYork. “The long days don’t scare me – I’m a grafter, I like to keep busy.”
However, the long hours on set can be trying for Lily, who has ADHD and finds downtime difficult.
“I do find the waiting around on set quite interesting because I’ve got quite severe ADHD,” says Lily. “So my concentration levels are difficult to manage in those situations.”
Dreamland is a big-hearted six-part series about four sisters, and is set in the Kentish seaside town of Margate.
Although she lives in NewYork, Lily was thrilled to be offered a job in the UK so her children Ethel, 11, and Marnie, 10, can spend time with their father, Sam Cooper.
“I had just moved to NewYork, but I bring my kids back to the UK for summer to spend time with their dad, so when this landed on my desk, and I heard it was shooting in Margate – and I love Margate – I was instantly hooked,” explains Lily.
The star spent many of her own childhood summers at the British seaside, but admits she doesn’t have many happy memories.
She says, “Both of my parents’ families lived by the seaside. I sort of blocked out most of my childhood.”
Lily loved working with such a strong female cast on Dreamland. “It’s funny because when we were in rehearsal doing the round tables, there was such a good vibe and I had never experienced anything like it, ”says Lily. “Then I was like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s because it’s nearly all women.’ I have made some lasting relationships.”
In the show, Mel is returning home to her family after her fashion career goes wrong in Paris. Lily explains, “In her head she wanted to thrive in Paris, but that didn’t work out. She currently doesn’t have aspirations other than to just not be her.”
Lily admits she was delighted to play Mel as she can identify with her struggles.
“Mel loves her family,” says Lily. “She feels a bit misunderstood, and maybe not heard. I’ve felt very misunderstood in my life. I’ll seem visually present to people in my life but at the same time not really understood or listened to. That’s what attracted me to Mel.”
Lily admits she has caught the acting bug. However, she hasn’t given up on her music and will be returning to the recording studio.
She adds, “I’m doing more theatre and developing a few things with different people. But also, I’m back in the studio making music!”
Dreamland starts on Thursday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic