If you’re wondering who Rebecca Lucy Taylor is, here’s the short answer: she’s an English singer, songwriter, author and actress from Rotherham, better known by her stage name Self Esteem. Born on 15 October 1986, she spent a decade as one half of indie duo Slow Club before launching her solo project, and she’s since won an Ivor Novello Award, been nominated for the Mercury Prize twice, written a Sunday Times bestselling book, and taken on major West End acting roles.
This guide covers her career from Slow Club through to her current 2026 schedule, her three Self Esteem albums, her move into acting and writing, and the questions people ask most about her.
Who is Rebecca Lucy Taylor?
Rebecca Lucy Taylor is a 39-year-old singer, songwriter, musician and actress from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who performs and records under the name Self Esteem. She’s credited as a vocalist, drummer, guitarist and keyboardist, and has been active in music since 2006, according to her Wikipedia entry.
She adopted the Self Esteem name around 2015, using it as a deliberate declaration at a point in her life when she felt she had very little of the quality itself, a story she’s told in several interviews. It’s now the name most people know her by, even though Rebecca Lucy Taylor remains her legal name and the one used in acting credits and press coverage of her book.
From Slow Club to Self Esteem
Before she was Self Esteem, Taylor spent around a decade in the indie pop duo Slow Club, touring the UK and trying to establish herself in what she’s since described as a notoriously difficult industry to break into. That grassroots background is a big part of what UK music press points to when explaining her current appeal: she didn’t arrive through a single viral moment, but through years of steady graft.
Her first Self Esteem album, Compliments Please, came out in 2019 and included fan favourites such as “The Best” and “Girl Crush.” It was a promising start, but the real breakthrough came in 2021.
The Self Esteem albums
Prioritise Pleasure (2021)
Prioritise Pleasure, released on 22 October 2021, is widely seen as the record that turned Self Esteem from a cult name into a genuinely major UK artist. Lead single “I Do This All the Time” became her breakout moment, and the album went on to a Mercury Prize nomination in 2022, alongside further nods at the BRIT Awards and NME Awards, and was named Album of the Year by both the Guardian and the Sunday Times, according to Wikipedia and reporting from Louder Than War.
A Complicated Woman (2025)
Her third album, A Complicated Woman, followed on 25 April 2025 via Polydor, reaching number 5 in the UK charts. It was accompanied by a sell-out limited theatrical run at the Duke of York Theatre in London, co-presented with director Tom Scutt, and led to Taylor winning the Visionary Award at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, recognising what the judges called her genre-defying songwriting, per Billboard’s coverage of the ceremony.
Her acting career
Alongside music, Taylor has built a genuine second career on stage and screen. She played Sally Bowles in the Olivier Award-winning West End production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, starring opposite Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears as the Emcee, with their run extended due to demand, according to Dorset’s Camp Bestival lineup notes.
She’s also had a regular role in the Sky series Smothered and appeared on Taskmaster. In March 2026, she took on one of her biggest acting roles yet, playing Maggie Frisby in a revival of David Hare’s play Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, a part first performed by Dame Helen Mirren at the Royal Court fifty years earlier.
Her book: A Complicated Woman
Taylor’s literary debut, also titled A Complicated Woman, was published on 30 October 2025 by Brazen, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group. It blends personal notes, song lyrics, and journal-style prose exploring womanhood, and made the Waterstones Best Books of 2025 list, going on to become a Sunday Times bestseller.
Writer Dolly Alderton described her as an “oracle” in a cover blurb for the book, one of several strong endorsements it received from critics and fellow writers.
Awards and recognition
Taylor’s award history reflects her move from cult favourite to mainstream, critically respected artist. She won the Visionary Award at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, has been nominated for the Mercury Prize twice, and has picked up nominations at the BRIT Awards and NME Awards, largely on the strength of Prioritise Pleasure and A Complicated Woman.
Speaking about the Ivor Novello win, she told Louder Than War that awards genuinely do help you feel better about your career, even if they’re not the reason you make the work in the first place.
What’s next for Self Esteem in 2026
2026 has been described by her local paper, the Rotherham Advertiser, as one of her busiest years yet, combining touring, acting, and public appearances. She’s confirmed for a run of summer festival dates, including sets previously broadcast from Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend, alongside her Teeth ‘n’ Smiles theatre run.
She’s also spoken publicly about the toll of that pace, telling BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq that she sometimes feels she needs a nine-day week just to keep up, when what she actually needs is two proper days off to recover. It’s a rare moment of honesty from an artist whose whole public persona is built on exactly that kind of candour.
FAQs
What is Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s real name?
Rebecca Lucy Taylor is her real, legal name. Self Esteem is her stage and recording name, which she adopted around 2015 as a deliberate artistic statement.
Where is Rebecca Lucy Taylor from?
She’s from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and was born there on 15 October 1986. Her Yorkshire roots are frequently referenced in coverage of her career and public persona.
What band was Self Esteem in before going solo?
She spent around a decade in the indie pop duo Slow Club before launching her solo career as Self Esteem. Slow Club toured the UK for years before Taylor moved into her solo project.
Has Self Esteem won any major awards?
Yes, she won the Visionary Award at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards for her songwriting on A Complicated Woman. She’s also received two Mercury Prize nominations, along with nods at the BRIT Awards and NME Awards.
What was Self Esteem’s breakthrough song?
“I Do This All the Time,” the lead single from her 2021 album Prioritise Pleasure, is widely regarded as her breakthrough moment. The album went on to a Mercury Prize nomination and was named Album of the Year by both the Guardian and the Sunday Times.
What West End role did Rebecca Lucy Taylor play?
She played Sally Bowles in the Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, opposite Jake Shears as the Emcee. In March 2026, she took on a further major stage role, playing Maggie Frisby in a revival of Teeth ‘n’ Smiles.
Has Rebecca Lucy Taylor written a book?
Yes, her literary debut, A Complicated Woman, was published in October 2025 and became a Sunday Times bestseller, making the Waterstones Best Books of 2025 list. It blends personal notes, journal entries, and song lyrics to explore themes of womanhood.
How old is Rebecca Lucy Taylor?
She was born on 15 October 1986, making her 39 as of mid-2026, with her 40th birthday due later in the year.
