Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, her spokesperson has said.
Tributes have poured in for the star whose hits included As Tears Go By, which was written by The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Alongside her music career, Faithfull also acted in films including The Girl on a Motorcycle, as well as theatre productions.
In recent years, her voice was used in the 2021 remake of Dune and 2023’s Wild Summon.
A spokesperson released a statement expressing deep sadness at the passing of Marianne Faithfull, the singer, songwriter, and actress.
‘Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.’
Paying tribute, JK Rowling wrote on X: ‘One of my favourite albums of all time. RIP Marianne.’
Tony Blackburn OBE added: ‘Sorry to hear that 69’s singer Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78.
‘She gave us some great songs to play. R.I.P.’
One devastated fan shared, “I can’t bring myself to accept it; I am devastated… Marianne Faithfull was not only one of my beloved musicians but also a significant part of the history of the Stones.”
‘Thank you everything Marianne.’
Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, her spokesperson has said. Pictured here in London in February 2002
She starred in the 1960s film Girl On A Bicycle as well as enjoying chart success as a singer
Marianne Faithfull, pictured here in 1967, has hits such as Come And Stay With Me
During the 1960s, she had other successful songs such as “As Tears Go By,” which was co-written by her then-partner Mick Jagger. (The couple is seen together in Sydney in July 1969)
A third added: ‘Marianne Faithfull. Always interesting and delightful.
‘Lucky enough to have been able to spend time with her over the years. 1946-2025. RIP.’
Faithfull began her singing career in 1964, after being discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
She released her self-titled debut album in 1965, which featured her UK number nine hit single, along with number four hit Come And Stay With Me, at the same time as follow-up LP Come My Way, largely made up of folk covers.
From 1966 to 1970, Faithfull was in a highly-publicised relationship with Sir Mick following his split from model and actress Chrissie Shrimpton.
Her first hit, As Tears Go By, was written by Sir Mick and Richards, and was followed up with a series of successful singles, including Come And Stay with Me, This Little Bird and Summer Nights.
She was famously found wearing nothing except a rug at an infamous drugs bust at Rolling Stones guitarist Richards’ country house, Redlands, in 1967.
Following her split with Sir Mick, Faithfull spent two years on the streets of Soho while addicted to heroin before living in a squat.
Tony Blackburn posted a tribute to Marianne Faithfull on X this afternoon
Faithfull began her singing career in 1964, after being discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham
Marianne pictured with Mick Jagger at Euston station in 1967. The pair dated for four years and split in 1970
Throughout the sixties and seventies, she battled heroin addiction, had a miscarriage in 1968 with Mick and lost custody of her son Nicholas
Marianne pictured in 1968 on the set of The Girl On A Motorcycle
Faithful during her performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 10, 1995
She returned to release an album, Broken English, in 1979, which is now regarded as a classic.
Faithfull re-invented herself in 1987 as a jazz and blues singer, with the critically acclaimed Strange Weather, and in the same decade went into rehab.
Her final album was an experimental collaboration with Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ Australian multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, called She Walks In Beauty (2021).
Recently she has enjoyed a resurgence and is said to be admired by the likes of Kate Moss and Courtney Love.
In 2006, it was announced that she had made a full recovery from breast cancer.
Doctors in France had diagnosed the disease in September forcing the star to postpone her world tour.
But the cancer was found in its ‘earliest stages’ and following surgery, she announced she would resume her tour the next year.
She was quoted as saying at the time: ‘It has been an extraordinary experience and, in many ways, extremely positive.
‘I didn’t realise how many true friends I had. I feel so lucky and loved and thank everybody for all their good thoughts.’
The breast cancer came two years after Faithfull, a former smoker, was forced to cancel her European tour after collapsing backstage at a gig.
Marianne Faithfull attends the Gus Van Sant : Retrospective at la cinematheque on April 11, 2016 in Paris
Marianne Faithfull pictured after she opened the Innocence and Experience exhibition at Tate Liverpool in 2012
Faithfull poses during a photocall to present her film ‘Irina Palm’ running in the competition at the 57th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 13, 2007
Faithful smiles during a news conference to present her film ‘Irina Palm’ running in the competition at the 57th Berlinale International Film Festival
Faithfull poses for a picture with French director Patrice Chereau in 2001
The singer was diagnosed with exhaustion and ordered to rest for three months.
In 2005 filmmaker Duncan Roy announced that Faithfull had stepped down from his screen version of The Picture Of Dorian Gray because she had suffered a heart attack, which she denied.
The daughter of a British military officer and an Austro-Hungarian Jewish baroness, Faithfull recently appeared in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette.
She made guest star appearances as God in the TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
One of her early films included I’ll Never Forget What’s ‘Is Name, alongside Orson Welles, and Girl On A Motorcycle.
