Biography for
Marianne Faithfull More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 December 1946, Hampstead, London, England, UK

Birth Name

Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull

Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Daughter of Eva, the Baroness Erisso, and Major Glynn Faithfull, a WWII British spy. Recorded the first song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "As Tears Go By" (1964). Involved in a major drug scandal with Jagger, Richards and others, which ultimately turned public opinion favorably towards the 'Rolling Stones' and other rock groups. In the 70's she became addicted to heroin and was homeless in London's Soho district for a couple of years. Recorded numerous albums in the 80's, while struggling with cocaine and alcohol. Has remained sober and productive since.

IMDb Mini Biography By: <anthony- adam@tamu.edu>

Spouse

Giorgio Della Terza	(1988 - 1991) (divorced)
Ben Brierly	(8 July 1979 - 1986) (divorced)
John Dunbar	(6 May 1965 - 1966) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

John Dunbar got custody of their son Nicholas after the divorce.

The first time the F-word was spoken in a movie was by her in I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967).

Poet Allen Ginsberg, an old friend, named her "Professor of Poetics, Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poets."

Now a grandmother of two living in Ireland.

Reportedly working on a follow-up to her 1994 autobiography, "Faithfull", which is being turned into a screenplay.

Through her mother, Marianne is a direct descendant of Count Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the infamous 19th century Austrian nobleman whose classic erotic novel, "Venus in Furs", spawned the word "masochism".

Ranked #25 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll

Some of the lyrics to The Rolling Stones' song "Wild Horses" were allegedly about her break-up with Mick Jagger.

Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 134, pages 137-138. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.

September 2006 - According to her website, Marianne is being treated for breast cancer. The prognosis was stated to be excellent.

Has made a full recovery from breast cancer after undergoing surgery [November 6, 2006].

Attended a Roman Catholic girls school in her youth.

Lives in Paris with her manager François Ravard.

In 1967 she was among those arrested in a drug raid by British police at the residence of Keith Richards.

Her mother was a baroness, her father was an officer in British Intelligence.

The Rolling Stones' song "As Tears Go By" was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards--their first collaboration--for her.

Was best friends with Anita Pallenberg when they both dated The Rolling Stones band members ( Faithfull dated Mick Jagger and Pallenberg dated Brian Jones).

In 1969, director Tony Richardson cast Faithful in the movie version of Nicol Williamson's Hamlet (1969), which had been an international success. Francesca Annis had played Ophelia to Williamson's Gloomy Dane in London, on Broadway and during an American tour. Ironically, Roman Polanski nixed both Williamson and Faithful for the roles of Macbeth and His Lady in the 1971 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth (1971), Williamson for lacking sex appeal and Faithful because of her heroin addiction. Polanski cast Annis as Lady Macbeth instead.

John Lennon's 1966 song "And Your Bird Can Sing" was inspired by Mick Jagger's relationship to Faithful.

Personal Quotes

Once [Mick Jagger] came straight off stage to the hotel where I was waiting and he was absolutely terrifying. He was like somebody possessed. I don't think he even knew who I was. He still had his make-up on and there was a froth of spittle around his mouth and his eyes were violent and he was making grunting sounds. He didn't say a word; just those god-awful grunts. He picked me up and slammed me against the wall. Several times. Afterwards, I don't think he even remembered it.

My favorite instrument in the whole world is the human female voice, and Kate Bush is one of the reasons why. It is by far a Stradivarius, which is why she rarely details with the press or isn't in a rush to record. She's one of the few who can be above all that.