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Dakota Johnson Cameos as ‘Madeline’ in Lily Allen’s SNL Return

Allen says the song’s other woman is a fictional construct despite ongoing public speculation.

Overview

  • Lily Allen performed “Sleepwalking” and “Madeline” on the Dec. 13 Saturday Night Live hosted by Josh O’Connor, her first musical-guest slot on the show since 2007.
  • Johnson stayed behind a sheer curtain to voice Madeline’s texted lines, then stepped out at the end to reveal herself and kiss Allen on the cheek.
  • West End Girl, released in October, draws on Allen’s marital breakdown with David Harbour, which she has framed as autofiction that blends lived experience with invention.
  • Allen has reiterated that Madeline is not a single real person, even as reporting highlighted a public claim by Natalie Tippett and continued online guessing.
  • The SNL appearance extends Allen’s promotion of West End Girl, with announced UK arena dates beginning in March and a nine-city North American tour in April.