‘I’ve spent the past 15 to 20 years self-medicating and being quite numb’: Lily Allen admits becoming sober has helped her new acting career path because she can ‘behave like an adult’
Lily Allen has credited her sobriety with helping her new acting career path, after quitting drugs and alcohol two years ago.
In a candid new interview, the singer, 36, admitted she feels ‘more capable of behaving like a connected adult’ and ‘ready to open up about feeling things’ since giving up booze.
Lily who celebrated two years of sobriety earlier this week, is set to make her West End debut in the show 2:22: A Ghost Story next month, and the star added that she can related to her character Jenny who feels ‘misunderstood.’
Candid: Lily Allen has credited her sobriety with helping her new acting career path, after quitting drugs and alcohol two years ago
Speaking to The Telegraph, Lily said: ‘I was living life in a bubble for a long time, which was about me, me, me. I think I’m ready to open myself up to feeling things, which I haven’t been in the past.
‘I’ve spent the past 15 to 20 years self-medicating and being quite numb about feelings… I feel I’m capable of behaving like a connected adult in a way I haven’t for a long time.’
Lily, who stars in 2:22: A Ghost Story alongside EastEnders actor Jake Wood, added that she was offered a script for the role just days after breaking down in tears to husband David Harbour about reaching a crossroads in her life.
Open: In a candid new interview, the singer admitted she feels ‘more capable of behaving like a connected adult’ since giving up booze (pictured in 2006)
The play sees her play Jenny, a teacher convinced her new home is haunted, but as her husband refuses to believe her she becomes more and more isolated.
Discussing the role, Lily added: ‘I’ve never really wanted to do acting. I’m terrified of failure. What I do in my primary profession is just an extension of me – no one can mark you down for being yourself. I’m in awe of actors – you’re being judged on how well you can portray somebody else. I find that scary.’
Earlier this week Lily celebrated two years of sobriety by taking to Instagram to share a snap posing in a slinky black minidress.
Open: Lily added that she was sent a script for the role just days after breaking down in tears to husband David Harbour about reaching a crossroads in her life (pictured with her daughters)
Milestone: Earlier this week Lily celebrated two years of sobriety by taking to Instagram to share a snap posing in a slinky black minidress
She told fans: ‘2 years drug and alcohol free today! Getting clean is the BEST thing I ever did, and I’ve done a lot of cool s**t.’
Sporting her iconic blunt fringe and with her raven tresses cascading in loose waves past her shoulders, the star put on a leggy display for her social media followers as she celebrated the impressive milestone.
Doting mother Lily also posted a screengrab of the app she uses to keep track of her sobriety timeline, which confirmed it’s been two years since the songstress turned her back on drugs and alcohol.
It showed that that last time Lily consumed alcohol was July 28 2019.
Sweet: She also revealed that director Isabel Marr presented her with a tasty-looking cake with the number ‘two’ written in icing to celebrate
Lily also revealed that Isabel Marr – who is directing the upcoming play Lily stars in, 2:22 A Ghost Story – presented her with a tasty-looking cake stamped with the number ‘two’ written in icing to celebrate.
In 2018, she came under fire for glamourising drug-taking after admitting she snorted a line of ketamine at the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards in 2008.
Describing what happened, Allen said: ‘Someone gave me a line of what I assumed to be cocaine at the Glamour awards once, but it turned out to be Ketamine. I was thrown out (passed over some railings) of the Glamour awards for being in a k hole.’
She added: ‘Obviously I couldn’t talk, or direct the driver so my assistant instructed the occupant of the car behind to ‘follow that cab’ I believe the occupant was @chattyman I have no idea what happened next.’
Speaking out: She added: ‘I was living life in a bubble for a long time, which was about me, me, me. I think I’m ready to open myself up to feeling things, which I haven’t been in the past’