“No one ever chats me up": Paloma Faith on being single, socialist and sensitive

“No one ever chats me up": Paloma Faith on being single, socialist and sensitive

Search for Paloma Faith online and the words eccentric and kooky pop up. A lot.

So not surprisingly, when it comes to interviewing the double Brit-nominated, Bafta-performing singer, things are never going to be straightforward.

“I’m going to sit in on this chat but not say anything,” she smiles sweetly. “My keyboardist, Banks, will speak on my behalf.

"If I disagree with anything he says, I’ll interject, but otherwise I’d like to read an interview with me in which I don’t know what I’m going to say.”

So far, so eccentric.

But there is more to the Hackney-born star than the painted-on eyebrows, ornate hairdo and 50s-inspired stage make-up.

Beneath the bravado, the singer is deeply sensitive â€" as the lyrics to her platinum-selling album, Fall To Grace, testify.

In a year, she has lost nearly a stone and a half, after feeling pressure to conform to pop starlet convention.

And now she admits she is eager to find love and start a family. 

Little star: Paloma as a tot

 

Ditching Banks and deigning to talk to me, she says: “I’m single for the first time since the age of about 14.

“No one ever chats me up; I think they all think I’m taken. Either that or no one fancies me.

“I don’t get hit on by anyone, ever. That’s the truth. No one ever approaches me, famous or otherwise.

“I’m not seeing anyone but am open to offers…I’m on the lookout.

“I like someone with a really good and dark sense of humour, who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and preferably non-European.

“My mum’s always on at me to have children and blames ‘that stupid stage thing you do’ for me not already having a family.

“In five years’ time, I’d like to have a small brood of babies.” 

At just 27, Paloma is wise beyond her years.

Twelve months ago, she deliberately set about losing weight after seeing one too many unflattering photos.

As well as taking up running, she cut out all red meat, dairy and wheat, surviving mainly on “porridge, bananas and juice.”

She explains: “I looked at paparazzi shots that were caught at bad angles, and got fed up with it.

“I wanted to reduce the amount of bad angles that were possible because people were having a field day with me.

“I feel strangely disappointed but my life has got better since I lost the weight.

“People have been nicer to me â€" press, people that I meet, Twitter. People actually fancy me now!

“Still no one hits on me but a lot more say I’m hot on Twitter now the Timothy Spall chins have gone. I like it.”

Debut: Starring in St Trinians

On the subject of Timothy Spall, Paloma recently appeared opposite the veteran luvvie on BBC1 drama, Blandings.

The talented actress graduated from Central Saint Martins drama school and made her movie debut in the 2007 St Trinian’s remake.

She has since appeared in Hollywood sci-fi flick The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.

As well as starting on her third studio album, she also recently performed at the Baftas, garnering a whole new fanbase.

“Samuel L Jackson said he loved me,” she squawks excitedly.

“He approached after I sang and said he was moved by my performance and that I ‘had ­something’ which was pretty surreal.

"He also gave me a kiss on the cheek.”

Selling over half a million copies of her acclaimed second album â€" which earned her two nominations at tonight’s Brit awards, the Just Be singer is beginning to reap the trappings of fame.

“I have a cleaning lady who comes once a week and I pay her £50 a time, even though she only charges £30,” she says.

“I just feel bad…but I do loads of washing-up.”

Long road: Paloma worked her way up over the years

Despite this, Paloma is a pretty canny businesswoman.

On stage in Cambridge, during the last night of her sell-out UK tour, she merrily flogs her wares: “Go and buy some of my merchandise.

"I designed it myself and would wear it now. But only a t*** wears a t-shirt with her own name on it.”

Paloma has spent the past 10 years working her way to the top.

And she remains true to her Labour roots.

In November Paloma campaigned outside Parliament, raising awareness about youth unemployment as part of a Channel 4 documentary.

“I’m a socialist,” she says.

“I was approached to front this youth unemployment thing because they were looking for someone in the public eye who is used to speaking out about what they believe in.

“I vote Labour and can’t begin to acknowledge anything good that comes from a Tory.

“I wouldn’t allow David Cameron to one of my gigs…although I suppose if he paid for a ticket, I’d let him in. And I’d be civil.

"David Cameron just looks like an idiot and I can’t praise anything his ­government does.

“Even the recent gay marriage laws they approved.

"In my mind, two consenting adults should be able to marry each other without there having to be a discussion about it in the first place.

"So I’m not going to start praising him for that because it’s standard to me that this should be allowed to happen.”

Star interview: Paloma with our Clemmie

It’s no surprise Paloma is not impressed with artists including Madonna and the Rolling Stones who charge fans inordinate amounts to watch them in concert.

“Because I’m a socialist, I think it’s disgusting when Madonna and co set ticket prices at £300,” she storms. “I don’t believe in elitism.

“I think a lot of artists now don’t have a proper band behind them.

“That allows you to be more spontaneous, and mix things up.

“A lot of the time when you go to the shows of acts like One Direction it just sounds like the album, a pre-recorded gig.

“There’s no banter between songs, it’s all robotic. It’s sad.” 

As is the current female obsession with anti-ageing, according to Paloma. “Botox is depressing,” she harrumphs.

“You are what you are and it’s so depressing we live in a society in which we have to worry about whether people will treat us nicer if we’re thinner or have less wrinkles.

“Everything is geared towards women never getting old but celebrating men ageing.

"A lot of women aren’t seeing that for what it is which is upsetting.

“There should be a revolt against it, with women celebrating their age."

Double Brit nominee: Life is sweet for Paloma

She adds: “There’s a beautiful scene in this film, The Mother, written by one of my favourite authors, Hanif Kureishi.

“It’s about an older lady having an affair with her daughter’s boyfriend. 

“And it shows her body ageing and I think it’s so beautiful, celebrating women’s bodies and ageing like that.

“I wouldn’t ever have Botox because otherwise I would be denying that.” 

At this point, Paloma reaches a dainty little paw out to me and shakes my hand before adding: “I 100% promise I’ll never have it.”

Unlike many a pop star today, Paloma, I suspect, is one to keep her word. 

See Paloma on the Brits tonight on ITV1 at 8pm.