Gwyneth Paltrow knows how nepotism works, so perhaps this is why she has chosen an interview with Elle magazine to stick up for Lily Allen. But how would Gwyneth get such insights into Lily's life? Here's a clue - it starts with 'N' and ends in 'epotism'.

Paltrow (daughter of the actress Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow) is aware of Lily's work as she appeared in the movies 'Sylvia' and 'Proof', whose screenwriter was Allison Owen (mother of Lily Allen), so she is without doubt the best-placed person to give a sensible and impartial view of the pug-nosed nuisance's career, and she doesn't like it one bit when people criticise her friend's daughter.

 

"The way I feel about that is: shame on you. They're doing that to a child! Lily is not a woman yet."

 

Lily Allen is 23. And has been getting stuck right into the media for several years now (and getting stuck into quite a few other things at a guess).

 

"She'll be OK because she's a smart girl, and very talented. But this is a big test to get when you're her age. But in a way, if it makes her go in a good direction, what a blessing. Think about all the crap she's got out of the way."

 

Quite right Gwyneth! Well, that TV series for a start.

 

by Ian McShane