12 facts you might not know about Paloma Faith

Paloma Faith has one of the most unique voices in British music! The 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This' singer, who released her sixth album 'The Glorification of Sadness' in 2024, can seemingly do it all - not only does she have an incredible voice and is an amazingly talented songwriter, but she's also a brilliant performer and actress.

Alongside being a worldwide superstar, Paloma is also a mum of two - with a third on the way - and has often spoken about how that has impacted her writing. Get to know The Celebrity Traitors star a bit better with these 12 facts!

1) What is Paloma Faith's real name?

Technically, it is her real name! She was born Paloma Faith Bloomfield.

2) Where is she from?

Paloma is from Hackney in London, and her dad is Spanish.

3) How old is she?

Paloma's birthday is 21st July 1981, making her currently 44-years-old. In 2014, Paloma admitted that she had lied about her age at the beginning of her career, believing that she'd get further if record executives thought she was younger.

4) How did Paloma Faith become famous?

Paloma took dance lessons as a child, and studied for a degree at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, before taking on an MA in theatre directing. She worked as a singer in a burlesque cabaret and a bartender in a pub among other things, and began recording in studios before meeting her managers.

The manager of the pub she worked at invited her to front his band, becoming known as Paloma and the Penetrators, and she was scouted by an A&R from Epic Records at one of the band's performances. After turning down the opportunity to join Amy Winehouse's band, she released her debut single 'Stone Cold Sober' in 2009.

5) Which films and TV shows has Paloma Faith been in?

Her first acting role was the role of Andrea in the 2007 remake of St Trinian's, and she had a role as Sally, the Devil's girlfriend, in 2009 film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as well as a small part in horror film Dread.

She had a role as a cabaret performer in Blandings in 2013, and in 2015 played Tinker Bell in Peter & Wendy, an adaptation of Peter Pan. She was a judge on The Voice UK in 2016 alongside fellow coaches Boy George, Ricky Wilson and will.i.am, and returned to the panel in 2020 for The Voice Kids UK, reuniting with will.i.am and joining McFly's Danny Jones as well as Pixie Lott.

She has also portrayed Florence de Regnier in period drama Dangerous Liaisons alongside Lesley Manville, Carice van Houten and Mia Threapleton among many others.

One of Paloma's biggest acting roles to date was that of Bet Sykes in HBO series Pennyworth from 2019 - 2022, about Batman's butler. Speaking to Bustle UK in 2019, Paloma revealed why she was drawn to the character: "I found it quite cathartic. I've never been violent in my life but I feel like it's some of the best therapy I've ever had."

She added to TV Fanatic in 2020 ahead of the second season airing: "I don't come from a traditional training background. I'm really learning as I go along, and all of the emotional highs and lows - and the fact that Bet is a character who's quite capable of jumping from any emotion to another within a split second means that I get to really explore a whole plethora of characters in one. So I feel like I'm learning so much.

"It's like an acting apprenticeship to me because I can be aggressive and then vulnerable within like a moment and actually more so in season two because, in season one, I was just often very hard, but in season two, we start to really explore the nuances, and there's a lot of indication about Bet having a softer side as well."

Of course, no-one will ever forget her turn on the first UK Celebrity edition of The Traitors in 2025. As the first person to be murdered - and by her real-life close friend, Alan Carr, no less - she was a pivotal part of the show, despite leaving so early! Fans were gutted to see her leave in just the second episode, having hoped to see more of her hilarious and blunt personality.

6) What did she study?

The singer studied for a MA in theatre directing at the University of the Arts in London.

7) What was Paloma Faith's debut album?

Paloma released her debut album 'Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?' in 2009. It charted at Number 9 in the Official UK Charts.

8) Is Paloma Faith married?

Paloma married New Zealand chef Rian Haynes in 2005, but the pair split up after less than a year of being together and were divorced four years later. She spoke about the marriage to Metro.co.uk in 2013: "It was just a young, frivolous thing.

"We were in our early twenties and we did something quickly and realised it was a mistake. But we’re still close. I am still friends with him. All my other relationships were the ones that screwed me up, not that one!"

Paloma met French artist Leyman Lahcine in 2013, welcoming their first daughter together on 5th December 2016, choosing to keep their child out of the public eye but thanking the NHS in a handwritten note on her Instagram page which has since been taken down.

Paloma announced her second pregnancy in September 2020 with a very relatable message, taking to Instagram with a photo of her bump.

Paloma and Leyman welcomed their second daughter in February 2021, again choosing to keep her out of the public eye.

In November 2022, it was reported that Paloma and Leyman had decided to part ways. She began a relationship with creative director Andrew Soar in early 2023, but announced that they'd split in an interview in October 2023.

She's now in a happy relationship with Stevie Thomas, a music venue director who once appeared in TV show Shipwrecked. The pair went public in March 2025 at an after party for the BRITs - with Paloma announcing her pregnancy in October 2025!

WATCH: Paloma Faith Reveals How She Manages Touring Now She's A Mum

9) Has Paloma Faith ever had a Number 1?

She scored her first UK Number 1 in 2014 when she appeared on Sigma’s track ‘Changing’, written by Ella Eyre. Her fourth album, 'The Architect', also reached Number 1 after it was released in November 2017.

WATCH: Sigma ft. Paloma Faith - 'Changing' (Official Video)

10) Is Paloma Faith vegan?

Although she's never admitted to begin vegan, Paloma has taken part in many campaigns for animal rights in the past. She told Glamour in 2015: "I'm not actually vegan, but sometimes I like to cook vegan food."

11) Which awards has she won?

She won a BRIT Award for 'Best British Female Solo Artist' at the 2015 Awards, beating the likes of Ella Henderson, FKA Twigs, Jessie Ware and Lily Allen. She was nominated for the same award in 2011, 2013 and 2018.

12) She wrote about her break-up on 'The Glorification of Sadness'

Paloma announced the 'The Glorification of Sadness Tour' in October 2023, with a whopping 26 dates confirmed for April to June 2024. The dates supported her sixth studio album of the same name, featuring singles like instant hit 'How You Leave a Man'.

She spoke about the track and the album on podcast Reign with Josh Smith, saying: "It's about the worst breakup I've ever had, because it's the longest relationship I've ever had. We obviously had two kids together, so it's the worst thing that's ever happened to me in my life that I couldn't ignore when I was writing, but also the most private I feel about it because there's kids involved, so it's weird but I'm hoping the songs speak for themselves.

"I find it liberating. I feel like the whole album, when you go from start to finish, it's basically chronicling the stages of grief. It goes from the self-destructive moments to the insular moments to the really vulnerable moments and, actually, the kind of unusual bits for me as a female artist are the empowered moments.

"Even though it's been devastating and hard and all that, through the campaign I'm managing to sprinkle a bit of humour. Oh, let's laugh in the face of adversity, it's quite a sort of camp response to tragedy. But I feel like that in itself is helpful to me. It's kind of group therapy when I go online and people are like, ‘yes, girl!’"

Sadly, Paloma had to cancel her London tour date due to contracting laryngitis. The singer shared a statement with her fans saying: 'It's been taken out of my hands, I have been told I must listen to the medical professionals, so that I am able to return to perform for you, without causing long term damage.'

Scroll through to see all the artists going on tour in the upcoming months:

WATCH: Getting Personal With Paloma Faith

You can hear Paloma Faith's biggest hits on the Hits Radio playlist.

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