Allen 'to star in West End production'

Lily Allen has reportedly been hired to star in Neil LaBute's Reasons To Be Pretty.

According to The Sun, the '22' singer will take a break from her music career to focus on acting in the Tony Award-nominated play.

Allen said: "I'm not going to record and tour again for quite a while. I finish up my gig dates in March and I'll be ready to do something else.

"I've been on the road for four years and I've given my voice a real run for its money. I'm struggling, so I'm going to try something new."

She added: "The play is about themes close to my heart, things I touch on in my track 'The Fear', about the really damaging cult of beauty among young girls.

"They want me to play the lead, which is amazing and terrifying. There's a lady from RADA coming round to my house to train me up a bit. I'm always up for a new challenge.

"My dad's always threatening to embarrass me by making a comeback in music, so I'm hardly treading on his toes breaking into acting."