News | Entertainment
12 Jan 2026 8:34
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lily Allen's daughters are finding it hard adapting to life back in the UK

    The 40-year-old singer has Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 12, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper and admits that her kids are struggling with the changes that have come with moving back to Britain after living in New York.


    Lily - who separated from her second husband David Harbour in 2024 - said on her Miss Me? podcast: "My kids are f****** mental at the moment... They are really developing their personalities. It's just a lot. There's a lot of questions.

    "There's a lot of changes in our lives at the moment. We've changed houses, we've changed countries, we've changed schools, and it's a lot."

    The Not Fair hitmaker explained that she can hardly recognise her youngest daughter's accent as it has changed completely since she returned to Britain.

    Lily said: "Their accents have changed because they've come back. Like, now Marnie properly sounds like Princess Margaret. I'm like, who are you?

    "Literally six months ago, she was like (puts on a New York accent), 'What? No...' And now it's like a completely different person."

    She added: "But they are discovering who they are. They're grappling with some new ideas in terms of who I am.

    "The last five years, I've been a stay-at-home mum. And now I'm a single mum that has to work and suddenly has a lot of work opportunities on my plate and I'm having to travel a lot.

    "But they also like having a nice roof over their heads and nice clothes and being able to go to nice restaurants and things. So they understand it. But it's just a lot of change.

    "There's a lot of change and also new friends, new friendship groups and the idea of boyfriends."

    Lily also reflected on a busy 2025, which saw her release the album West End Girl that detailed the breakdown of her marriage to Stranger Things actor Harbour.

    She said: "I've done quite a lot this year.

    "I've finished an album, I got a boob job, I had a nervous breakdown, I went into hospital for a bit, I came out, I did some podcasting for a while, then I played one of the hardest tracks in theatre and killed myself (in the role of Hedda Gabler) every night for seven weeks."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     12 Jan: The Kardashians don't have a one-size-fits-all approach to relationships, according to Khloe Kardashian
     12 Jan: Jodie Foster finds working with female directors to be a "really amazing" experience
     12 Jan: Ali Wong and Bill Hader have split
     12 Jan: One Battle After Another leads the nominations for the Actor Awards
     12 Jan: Brigitte Bardot has been laid to rest
     11 Jan: Katie Leung found her Harry Potter fame "overwhelming" and "difficult"
     11 Jan: Julia Roberts is planning to reset her rider in 2026 after seeing George Clooney's new film Jay Kelly
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    New Zealand Giant Slalom skiing star Alice Robinson isn't switching focus despite surprise showings in a different discipline More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Rising living costs are driving up both the number of first-time student loan borrowers, and the size of their loans More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    The Kardashians don't have a one-size-fits-all approach to relationships, according to Khloe Kardashian 8:23

    Business:
    Rising living costs are driving up both the number of first-time student loan borrowers, and the size of their loans 8:17

    Basketball:
    Breakers forward Rob Baker has responded to his coach's defensive criticism in basketball's ANBL 8:07

    International:
    In Minneapolis, the deadly ICE shooting has reopened old wounds 7:57

    Business:
    The Government says a move to "open electricity" will give consumers more choice through better transparency 7:57

    Entertainment:
    Jodie Foster finds working with female directors to be a "really amazing" experience 7:53

    Accident and Emergency:
    A weekend of people getting into trouble in the water has spurred renewed calls for caution 7:47

    Business:
    The Government hopes the roll-out of "open electricity" makes it easier for Kiwis to get cheaper power 7:37

    Accident and Emergency:
    There have still been no sightings of a man who went missing in the Waikato River over the weekend 7:27

    Entertainment:
    Ali Wong and Bill Hader have split 7:23


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd