Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull dies at 78

British music icon Marianne Faithfull has passed away at 78, leaving behind a career that spanned six decades and a legacy far beyond her famous ties to Mick Jagger.

A spokesperson confirmed the news, saying Faithfull died peacefully in London, surrounded by family.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull," a statement said.

"Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family.

"She will be dearly missed."

Discovered at a Rolling Stones party in 1964, she became a Swinging Sixties muse - but proved to be so much more. From co-writing As Tears Go By with Jagger and Richards to her critically acclaimed comeback, Broken English, Faithfull’s husky, lived-in vocals and raw storytelling cemented her as a true artist.

Her life was a mix of grit and glamour - Shakespearean performances, cabaret, and cult albums, alongside battles with addiction. A bohemian aristocrat by birth, she transformed from folk singer to rock star, refusing to be defined by her relationships.

rest in peace marianne faithfull thank you for the coolest picture of all time </3 pic.twitter.com/qnT2r2IXiR

— florence ¨̮ (@properstrangers) January 30, 2025

Once dismissed as “an angel with big tits” by the Stones’ manager, Faithfull rewrote her own story - one of reinvention, survival, and artistic brilliance.

Faithfull faced a lifetime of health struggles - bulimia, breast cancer, and emphysema after decades of smoking.

In 2020, Covid-19 nearly took her life. Hospitalised for 22 days, doctors didn’t expect her to make it. But she defied the odds, emerging a year later with her 21st album, She Walks in Beauty - a testament to her resilience.

In 2009, Faithfull was honoured with the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the Women's World Awards and named a Commandeure of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government - cementing her cultural impact.

Her personal life was just as eventful, with three marriages - to artist John Dunbar, punk rocker Ben Brierly, and actor Giorgio Della Terza.

She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar.

Pictured: Marianne Faithfull

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