Marianne Faithfull, the iconic singer and actress, has died. Her career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on the music and film industries. She collaborated with numerous renowned artists, including PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, David Bowie, and Lou Reed, all of whom acknowledged her as a significant influence. Even Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, praised her unique contributions to music and her willingness to perform with the band.
Beyond music, Faithfull’s acting career flourished. She shared the stage with Glenda Jackson in Chekhov’s Three Sisters and portrayed Ophelia in Hamlet. She even took on roles as diverse as God in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous and the devil in the musical The Black Rider.
Faithfull’s music, however, remained her true passion. Her 2018 album, Negative Capability, explored themes of aging, loneliness, and grief, influenced by the loss of her friend Anita Pallenberg and the Paris Bataclan terror attacks. The album featured a poignant re-recording of her early hit, As Tears Go By.
Her extensive career earned her the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women’s World Awards and recognition as a commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France. BBC Radio 2 presenter Bob Harris, a long-time friend, described Faithfull as the “encapsulation of the sixties,” transcending her initial fame as Mick Jagger’s girlfriend to become a respected artist and creator. He admired her intelligence, aristocratic bearing, and captivating personality.
Faithfull’s personal life included three marriages: to artist John Dunbar, Ben Brierly of the punk band the Vibrators, and actor Giorgio Della Terza. She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her artistic legacy will continue to inspire.
