Lily Allen

Lily Allen is the daughter of the raucous Welsh actor and comedian Keith Allen and the English film producer Alison Allen. Lily's mother was a producer on The Other Boleyn Girl, Shaun of the Dead, and Elizabeth, as well as several other films. As a child, Allen attended some of the most prestigious schools in England including Bedales School, Millfield, and Hill House School, the latter of which was Prince Charles's junior alma mater. Her wild ways of drinking and smoking led to her being kicked out of 12 different schools. The last school she left on her own accord at the age of 15, later stating that she did not want to "spend a third of her life preparing to work for the next third of her life, to set herself up with a pension for the next third of her life."

While in school at age 11, Allen was overheard singing an Oasis song on the playground. Her teacher began giving her singing lessons during lunch, and Allen ended up singing "Baby Mine" during a school concert. This was a turning point for Allen; she knew then that she wanted to involve music in her future as a profession. She began taking lessons in piano, singing, violin, guitar, and trumpet. As a member of the school chamber choir she sang "In the Bleak Midwinter" for her first solo performance.

When she was 14, Allen ran away from home to attend the hip Glastonbury music Festival. Then Allen decided at age 15 to begin focusing on her music. As Allen began songwriting, she was also studying horticulture. She has later stated that if she ever stopped being successful in her music, she would go back to being a florist.