Lily Allen says 2 kids ‘totally ruined’ her music career: No, ‘you can’t’ have it all

Lily Allen.
SInger-actor Lily Allen (pictured with husband David Harbour) said that having kids "ruined" her career.
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She thinks it’s not fair.

British singer-actress Lily Allen, 38, doesn’t stand by the idea that women can have “it all,” including a family and a flourishing career.

“My children ruined my career,” Allen said during a recent interview on “The Radio Times Podcast.”

“I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, totally ruined it,” she added.

“It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t.”

Singer Lily Allen has two daughters who are ages 11 and 12. PA Images via Getty Images
Singer Lily Allen has two daughters who are ages 11 and 12. PA Images via Getty Images
“My children ruined my career,” said Lily Allen. Radio Times/Youtube
“My children ruined my career,” said Lily Allen. Radio Times/Youtube

Allen, whose hit songs include “Not Fair,” “Smile,” “F – – k You” and “Alfie,” shares daughters Ethel Mary, 12, and Marnie Rose, 11, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper.

Allen married Cooper in 2011 and divorced him in 2018.

In 2020, Allen tied the knot with “Stranger Things” star David Harbour, 48.

“I was in London alone, doing ‘Black Widow,’ on this app, going on dates and stuff,” Harbour told British GQ.

“I started texting with her, she was in Italy at the time. We got together, went on a date at the Wolseley, and it was, you know, she’s f – – king unbelievable.”

Harbour said he remembered when he knew it was love. “It was our third date. I was just in this phase where I was like, ‘I’m just going to be brutally honest about everything,’ because why lie? And I told her something about my life, about my beliefs.”

“It would take a really extraordinary person to be accepting of the things that I said,” he continued. “And I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that’s somebody I want to be around.’ She claims to have fallen in love at first sight with me — I mean, who wouldn’t?” Harbour joked.

Lily Allen with her husband, David Harbour, and her two daughters. Instagram
Lily Allen with her husband, David Harbour, and her two daughters. Instagram
“It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t,” said Lily Allen. Jason Szenes for New York Post
“It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t,” said Lily Allen. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Lily Allen said her kids “ruined” her career. Getty Images
Lily Allen said her kids “ruined” her career. Getty Images

Harbour also spoke about their first meeting during a 2022 appearance on “The Late Late Show With James Corden.”

“She said, ‘When I saw you, I saw the biggest person I had ever seen in my life and also the smallest person I had ever seen in my life,’ ” he said.

“Isn’t that interesting? That’s what made her fall in love with me — that I was very big and also very small in a certain way.”

Harbour has said that he likes being a stepfather to Allen’s daughters, saying, “It’s nice to be a part of their lives.”

Lily Allen said it’s not possible to “have it all.” Michael Simon/Shutterstock
Lily Allen said it’s not possible to “have it all.” Michael Simon/Shutterstock
“In terms of pop stardom, totally ruined it,” Lily Allen said. Redferns
“In terms of pop stardom, totally ruined it,” Lily Allen said. Redferns

But, according to Allen, family life isn’t perfect.

“Some people choose their career over their children, and that’s their prerogative,” she said on the podcast.

“But my parents were quite absent when I was a kid, and I feel like that really left some nasty scars that I’m not willing to, you know, repeat on mine.”

Lily Allen said she doesn’t want to be an “absent” parent. Getty Images
Lily Allen said she doesn’t want to be an “absent” parent. Getty Images
Lily Allen said that her parents being absent left her with “nasty scars.” WireImage
Lily Allen said that her parents being absent left her with “nasty scars.” WireImage

Allen’s parents are producer Alison Owen and actor Keith Allen. Her siblings include “Game of Thrones” star Alfie Allen, 37.

She clapped back at criticism of nepo babies in a series of tweets, claiming that children of celebs are “starved” of “stability.”

“In childhood we crave stability and love, nurturing,” she told her X (formerly Twitter) followers in 2022. “We don’t care about money or proximity to power yet. Many of the nepo babies are starved of these basic things in childhood as their parents are probably narcissistic.”

Lily Allen with her husband David Harbour, and her kids. AFP via Getty Images
Lily Allen with her husband David Harbour, and her kids. AFP via Getty Images
Lily Allen with her ex- husband Sam Cooper, before their divorce.<br> Bertrand Rindoff Petroff
Lily Allen with her ex- husband Sam Cooper, before their divorce.
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff

She continued on the podcast, “So I chose stepping back and concentrating on [my children], and I’m glad that I have done that because I think they’re pretty well-rounded people.”

“Fingers f – – king crossed.”