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Lily Allen becomes face of the National Portrait gallery
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent01.06.09
She famously dated art dealer Jay Jopling and has been known to show her face at exhibition openings.
But now 24-year-old singer Lily Allen has gone a step further to cement her art world credentials — by becoming the public face of the National Portrait Gallery.
Pictures: National Portrait Gallery Poster Campaign
The pop star, more famous for her partying, joins ex-Blur member and now cheese-maker Alex James, and jazz musicians George Melly and Ronnie Scott, in a new marketing campaign.
Posters and leaflets highlight unexpected details about famous people, urging the public to “take another look”.
Reader views (13)
She's no oil painting....
- Fergus, northampton, uk
If it brings people to see the wonderful but sometimes forgotten National Portrait Gallery then it is a service well done.
Personally I cant stand the woman, but there is no accounting for taste!
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world
Paul London/ I mostly agree with everything you say. But I doubt Keith Allen would spoil any of his children; he always strikes me as a hardworking well motivated kind of person. Lilly has evidently used her father’s circle of friends along with new media and good luck to her, no jealousy here.
I believe the foul language and running down other people is a means to an end, self-publicity. She knows pop journalists are waiting for any excuse to publish a comment about a pop star and Lilly freely abuses this fact. Can you not picture her enjoying teasing the national press and boasting to her friends about her antics?
John London/ Lilly is not what I would call Butch either. But neither is she diminutive and lady like. I am loathed to use the word but she is a stereotypical attention seeking Chav. With regards to the Photo-shopped pictures,, lily’s problem is not the wrapping it’s the un-lady-like aggression within.
A rottweiler in puppy clothing
- Ge, Kernow
Being a spoilt rich kid with a connected dad is obviously the way to get into show business these days. Lilly Allen is actually very well spoken. So I do find it a bit much when she sings all street and swears to impress the Camden mob. But at least she does something, unlike the Geldof's kids who seem to just turn up to parties. I really don’t see why woman are so obsessed with these people… buying magazines each week and staring at pictures of them coming out of a restaurants and getting in a car? Maybe it’s because they feel they can aspire to be like them… well they can’t! I refer to the start of this message… you need to be a ‘Spoilt rich kid with a connected dad’
- Paul, London
I don't know any of her music so I can't comment on any of her lyrics, but how can anyone look at that picture and call her 'butch'?
Even if you think she's not very nice, she looks decidedly feminine to me...
- John, London
Gary, Brentwood.
I'm in total agreement with your comments.
- Daisy., Islington, London
Ms Allen, attention seeking, pompous and most insecure person who seeks to shock at any given instant. How she looks does not reimburse for the vitriol emitting from oral cavity and the knowledge she will exploit any headline for her own self publicity.
A fine example of inner city Britain 2009. A dream for the newspaper.
- Ge, Cornwall
Chris, London Two "names" designed to reflect the Foul mouthed pixie of pop is 'mense man'. Due to the fact they both think it is elegant to use obscenities rather than the rich English language gifted to the populace of this land and the world. Do we want our children to grow up as Chris has thinking being vulgar is brainy?
It is not hard to desire a higher level than the butch pixie; children in the playground may think her lyrics are intelligent I hope many others seek more out of music and respect themselves enough to not wish to sell out to toilet composition
- Gary, brentwood
No talent but has the right family connections. Say no more...
- Londoner, London England
It's a shame that sleeping with Jay Jopling or brown nosing Saatchi are the only effective ways for emerging talent to get noticed 
We need to change the culture of British culture.
- Real, London
Regardless of the ranty rambling of "Gary" from "Brentwood" (two words designed to make even the stoutest of hearts sink), I think Lily looks rather lovely there.
- Chris, London, UK
Chavtastic, perhaps they can take down all the renaissance masterpieces and replace them with some knock off Burberry prints from "dahn da market".
- Bob, Cheam
Potty mouthed Vocalist
Potty mouthed Lyricist
Butch
- Gary, brentwood
