Lily Allen was the MySpace pop sensation who quickly became a tabloid dream thanks to her fondness for partying, punching paparazzi and freely voicing her views on fellow celebs. However, after the success of her debut album ‘Alright, Still’, her fortunes seemed to wane with a much derided TV show, a tragic miscarriage and almost daily reports of drunken public outbursts. But Lily has bounced back and surprised everyone with her critically acclaimed, number one album, ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’. We asked her about negative press, life under the lens and swearing at Elton.

Playboy: Your new single and album both went to number one. Did you ever worry people might have forgotten what you did for a living?

Lily Allen: The reception to this album could have been so bad; you know what the British press are like, especially to people like me, they forget I make music. They think I'm a celebrity, which I'm not. I was worried people would really pick it apart, but they haven't so I'm really happy. 

But saying that, none of the reviews are that important to me. I write my music for me and I like it and if other people really like it, that's great.

Playboy: All musicians trot out that dreaded “if anyone else likes it it’s a bonus” line, but no one really believes it. Surely some reviews matter?

Allen: Yes, I have even cried over some reviews they've been so positive. It makes a change from people saying I'm a loudmouth or a bitch. I do Google myself and read what's written. I can't help myself.

There's an element in my personality that likes to have fun and is quite sarcastic and ironic. And I think people just multiply that by a million and then there is this crazy person who runs in and out of rooms, screaming abuse at people, which I don't do very often at all actually.

Playboy: Unless, maybe Elton John is in the room… Is it true you quit booze after you told him to “fuck off”, at the GQ Awards?

Allen: I did stop drinking pretty much the day after that. I was really upset with all the press coverage. I felt like it had all spun out of control. If I hadn't had a bottle of champagne in my hand then it wouldn’t have been such an issue. Me having a drink in my hand became the story, not how much money we'd raised for charity.

I'm drinking again now. I started again because, being on tour, you have to be in a certain place. And it is fun drinking sometimes. But there are people constantly keeping checks on me. My mum will call me up and tell me off after seeing me looking trashed leaving a nightclub. I have to listen to her, mums are always right.

Playboy: Falling out of the Groucho is one thing, but how difficult is it trying to have relationships when you’re in the public eye?

Allen: Very difficult. I am young and want to just go out and enjoy myself and if I meet someone on the way then great. There's this thing about me and older men, as my boyfriends have gone up in terms of age. Maybe the next one's probably gonna be 60!

Playboy: Aren’t men terrified of ending up in one of your songs? You’ve written some fairly unflattering things about your ex conquests.

Allen: It's just what I do. I write about real situations. I don't do it intentionally; it's just what I'm thinking about when I'm writing, and none of my songs are fictional. As for singing about “wet patches” and “giving head”, well guys have always spoken about “sit on my dick” and stuff for years. It's not weird. Women enjoy talking about having sex sometimes.

Playboy: We’ve all seen photographs of you sunbathing topless, any plans to take that to the next level and pose naked for a magazine?

Allen: No and I never would. I have managed to cultivate a pop career that suits my lifestyle. I don't want to be in the gym all the time, and don't want to be watching what I am eating. It's not really what I am here for, I am just doing what I like doing, and it works with the way that I live.

Playboy: And are you happy that the way you live involves having paparazzi snapping your every move?

Allen: I find it quite embarrassing actually. When you are just trying to walk down the street or something and people are looking at you and pointing at you. It's like, “I didn't ask them to follow me.” People presume too much of me. I'm not the person they think I am.

‘It's Not Me, It's You’ is out now.

www.myspace.com/lilymusic