FACTBOX: Her life and troubled times

LONDON (Reuters) - Her record label calls her "the most important and talented music artist of her generation" but for many months now, the headlines have belonged to Amy Winehouse's bizarre antics rather than her songs.

A succession of drug-fuelled incidents and shambolic gigs have tarnished the golden girl's image.

The figure behind the sassy beehive hair-do and distinctive eye make-up has morphed into the emaciated waif seen peering out of the now-infamous photo taken at her husband's court appearance in January.

Winehouse, 24, was born on September 14 1983 in Enfield, Middlesex, to a Jewish family with a history of jazz musicians.

She was discovered by soul singer Tyler James at the age of 16 and in 2003 her debut album "Frank" was released, to general acclaim.

Her second album "Back to Black" was released in October 2006 and reached the No. 1 spot. She has been nominated for six Grammys including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

The album's hit single "Rehab," with the prescient line: "They tried to make me go to rehab. I said 'no, no, no'" has been called the anthem of celebrity trash culture.

In October 2007, she and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested at a Norwegian hotel for marijuana possession, and soon afterward fans booed her on stage as she slurred her way through her gigs.

Two months later she was photographed wandering barefoot on a London street, wearing only jeans and a bra and looking confused.