Lily Allen on filming Dreamland in Margate

Not content with her spellbinding stage debut in the West End's 2:22 A Ghost Story, Lily Allen has now turned her attention to the small screen.

The 37-year-old singer-songwriter stars in new Sky series Dreamland, a big-hearted comedy drama - written by multi-Bafta award-winning actress Sharon Horgan and produced by Merman - which centres on the everyday lives, secrets and dreams of a working-class family living on a council estate in the seaside town of Margate.

London-born Allen plays Mel, one of four sisters in a somewhat dysfunctional set-up, set against the backdrop of one of Kent's favourite coastal resorts...

What drew you to Dreamland?

I had just moved to New York, but I bring my kids back to the UK for summer to spend time with their dad, so, when this landed on my desk and I heard it was shooting in Margate - and I love Margate - I was instantly hooked. Of course, I thought the script was amazing, and this being a Merman production was a big pull for me too. I trusted their instinct with it, and I loved the short that I had seen of it in its previous incarnation.

Tell us about your character Mel

Mel is a bit of a dark horse within the family make-up. She has aspirations outside of Margate where her family live. She's tried to make a life for herself away from all that, and that's failed, and she has now returned. She loves her family, each person for different reasons. I think she just feels a bit misunderstood, and maybe not heard and not seen - but's probably not well equipped to be able to deal with it.

Are there any similarities between you both?

I've felt very misunderstood in my life. I'll seem very visually present to people in my life but at the same time not really understood or listened to. I think that's what attracted me to Mel in the first place, the similarities not the differences. I felt an affinity with her.

You say you love Margate, how was it filming there?

It was great! I rented a little house in the square and brought my kids across. It was excruciatingly hot. But it was lovely, it's steeped in summertime history, that town.

Did it bring back any childhood memories?

Both of parents' family lived by the seaside - Portsmouth and Paignton. My mum used to be a Pontins Blue Coat, so I have faint memories of those kinds of holidays. I don't know though; I sort of blocked out most of my childhood!

The show boasts a female heavy cast, female writers and a females production team - do you think this has any impact on the show?

It's funny because when we were in rehearsal doing the roundtables, there was such a good vibe and energy and I had never experienced anything like it. And then I was like, oh yeah, it's because it's nearly all women. But on the other hand, it's my first TV job so I don't have anything else to compare it to. But I can tell you that I had an amazing time and have made some lasting relationships.

This is your debut TV acting role, how did you find the filming?

I get up at 5am anyway, even when I am not working, so it was actually quite nice. When I get up at 5 in Brooklyn, I'm just sat twiddling my thumbs for a few hours, so it was nice to get up and get straight on to set and start working. I do find the waiting around on set quite interesting because I've got quite severe ADHD, so my concentration levels are difficult to manage in those situations. The long days don't scare me because I'm a grafter, I like to keep busy.

- Dreamland is on Sky Atlantic and NOW