Lindsay Lohan seeks redemption on London stage

LONDON: Lindsay Lohan pouts from the billboards of London´s West End theatre district, where the Hollywood wildchild is making her stage debut in a bid to relaunch a career eclipsed by her off-screen antics.

"Lilo" is appearing as secretary Karen in "Speed-the-Plow", David Mamet´s three-act play satirising the US movie business, running at the Playhouse Theatre until November 29.

The 28-year-old former Disney actress has recently moved from New York to a flat in London, calling the British capital a more "adult" city.

She has had to instil some self-discipline to deal with the rigours of the London stage, contrary to commentators who deemed her out of control.

The play helps counter "the perception that I´m just a psycho that goes out and stuff", she told Time Out magazine.

"I think it shows that I can be accountable. "I´ve done things, but people grow up and they change. I´m willing to work hard to gain back the respect that I once had and have lost."
Although she won praise for her performance as a teen in the 2004 film "Mean Girls," she has since become better known for her drug problems, rehab visits, legal woes and lively social life.

She has been in and out of court on a regular basis since 2007. Before curtain up at the Playhouse, theatregoers took pictures of themselves in front of the posters, which feature a tight close-up of Lohan.

"I want her to be really good. I want her to prove all her critics wrong," said Matthew Nichols, 33, from Manchester in northwest England.

"It´s been brave for her to do it because she´s never done any theatre work and obviously London is the theatre capital of the world," he said.