Marianne Faithfull facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull in 1966
Born	Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (1946-12-29)29 December 1946 Hampstead, London, England
Occupation	Singer actress
Years active	1964–2023
Spouse(s)	John Dunbar ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1966)​ Ben Brierly ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1986)​ Giorgio Della Terza ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1991)​
Partner(s)	Mick Jagger (1966–1970)
Children	1
Parent(s)	Eva von Sacher-Masoch (mother)
Relatives	Simon Faithfull (half-brother)
Musical career
Genres	Rock folk alternative blues jazz
Labels	Decca London Island RCA Hut/Virgin Naïve
Associated acts	Andrew Loog Oldham Metallica The Rolling Stones Nick Cave

Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is a famous English singer and actress. She became very popular in the 1960s with her hit song "As Tears Go By". This song reached the top 5 in the UK. She was also one of the leading female artists during the British Invasion in the United States.

Marianne Faithfull started her career in 1964 after meeting Andrew Loog Oldham at a party for the Rolling Stones. Her first albums, Marianne Faithfull and Come My Way (both from 1965), were very successful. From 1966 to 1970, she had a well-known relationship with Mick Jagger. Her acting in films like I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967) and Hamlet (1969) also made her more famous. However, she faced personal challenges in the 1970s.

Marianne Faithfull is known for her unique voice. In the 1960s, her voice was melodic and high. But after a severe throat infection in the 1970s, her voice became permanently rough and lower. Critics often described this new sound as "whisky soaked." They felt it helped her express strong emotions in her music.

After some time away from the music scene, Marianne Faithfull made a big return in 1979. She released her album Broken English, which was praised by critics and sold well. This album helped restart her music career. Broken English was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Many people consider it her most important recording. She then released more albums, including Dangerous Acquaintances (1981) and Strange Weather (1987). Marianne Faithfull also wrote three books about her life.

In 2009, she received the World Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2011, the French government honored her with the Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Early Life and Family History

Family Background

Marianne Faithfull was born in Hampstead, London. Her half-brother, Simon Faithfull, is an artist. Her father, Major Robert Glynn Faithfull, was a British intelligence officer. He was also a professor of Italian literature at Bedford College in London.

Marianne's mother, Eva, came from an old noble family in Austria-Hungary. Eva was a ballerina when she was younger. She danced in shows by famous German artists Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Eva's family secretly opposed the Nazi regime in Vienna. Marianne's father met Eva through his work for the British Army. Marianne's maternal grandmother was Jewish.

Growing Up

Marianne's family lived in Ormskirk, Lancashire, for a while. Her father was finishing his doctorate at Liverpool University there. She also spent some time at a special community called Braziers Park in Oxfordshire. Her parents divorced when she was six. After that, she moved with her mother to Reading, Berkshire.

Marianne faced difficult times growing up. She had health problems, including tuberculosis. She attended St Joseph's Roman Catholic Convent School, Reading, with financial help. While at St Joseph's, she was part of a student theater group called Progress Theatre.

Music Career Highlights

Starting in the 1960s

Cashbox advertisement for "As Tears Go By," 1964

Marianne Faithfull started her singing career in 1964. She first performed folk music in coffeehouses. She quickly became part of London's exciting social scene. In early 1964, she met Andrew Loog Oldham at a Rolling Stones party. He helped her get started. Her first single, "As Tears Go By", became a hit song. It was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Andrew Loog Oldham. The Rolling Stones also recorded their own successful version of the song later.

She then released other popular songs like "This Little Bird" and "Come and Stay with Me". Marianne married artist John Dunbar in 1965. They had a son named Nicholas in November 1965.

In 1966, Marianne began a well-known relationship with Mick Jagger. She moved in with him. They became a famous couple in the trendy Swinging London scene. You can even hear her voice on The Beatles' song "Yellow Submarine".

Marianne Faithfull performing on Dutch TV in 1966

Marianne's connection to Mick Jagger influenced some of the Rolling Stones' songs. She introduced Jagger to the book The Master and Margarita, which partly inspired the song "Sympathy for the Devil". Songs like "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Wild Horses" are also thought to be about her. In 1968, Marianne performed her song "Something Better" at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert.

Michael Cooper, Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Shepard Sherbell, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and Brian Jones in 1967

The 1970s and Her Comeback

Marianne Faithfull's relationship with Mick Jagger ended in 1970. She went through some very tough times after that. She struggled with her health and even spent some time without a home in London. In 1971, producer Mike Leander tried to help her restart her career. He produced part of her album Rich Kid Blues, but it was not released until 1985.

In 1975, she released the country-influenced album Dreamin' My Dreams. This album was re-released in 1978 as Faithless and became a number one hit in Ireland. Marianne's career fully returned with the album Broken English. This album received great reviews from critics.

The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" from Broken English became one of her most successful singles. It was used in films like Thelma & Louise. Marianne also performed the song on the TV show Absolutely Fabulous.

Music in the 1980s

After Dangerous Acquaintances was released in 1981, Marianne Faithfull started living in New York City. In 1985, she sang "Ballad of the Soldier's Wife" on a tribute album for Kurt Weill. This collaboration led to more similar projects later.

In 1987, Marianne explored jazz and blues music with her album Strange Weather. This album was highly praised by critics and became her most acclaimed album of the decade.

The 1990s and Beyond

In 1990, Marianne Faithfull played the part of Pink's mother in Roger Waters' rock opera The Wall in Berlin. Her music career saw another boost in the early 1990s with the live album Blazing Away. This album featured Marianne singing songs from throughout her career.

In 1994, A Collection of Her Best Recordings was released. It included an updated version of "As Tears Go By" and songs from Broken English. She also sang with The Chieftains on their album The Long Black Veil in 1995. In 1997, Marianne sang on Metallica's song "The Memory Remains" from their album Reload. She also appeared in the song's music video.

Marianne's interest in German music from the Weimar Republic era continued. She performed in The Threepenny Opera in Dublin, playing Pirate Jenny. This led to her album Twentieth Century Blues (1996), which focused on music by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. In 1998, she recorded The Seven Deadly Sins with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

In 1998, A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology was released. This two-disc collection covered her years with Island Records. It included songs from many of her albums and some unreleased tracks. Her 1999 DVD Dreaming My Dreams shared details about her childhood and parents. It also featured interviews and concert footage. In the same year, VH1 ranked her 25th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll.

2000s and Recent Work

Marianne Faithfull performing in 2008

Marianne Faithfull released several albums in the 2000s that received good reviews. These included Vagabond Ways (1999), which featured collaborations with artists like Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris. Her album Kissin Time (2002) included songs written with Blur, Beck, and Billy Corgan. On this album, she paid tribute to Nico with the song "Song for Nico."

In 2005, she released Before the Poison, working with PJ Harvey and Nick Cave. In 2007, she toured with a show called Songs of Innocence and Experience. This show featured many songs she had not performed live before. She also recorded a new song for the French film Truands.

In 2009, Marianne Faithfull was honored with the Icon of the Year award from Q magazine. In 2011, she released her 18th studio album, Horses and High Heels. She supported the album with a big European tour. She also reunited with Metallica in 2011 to perform "The Memory Remains" at their 30th anniversary celebration.

In 2012, Marianne recorded a cover of Stevie Nicks' song "Angel" for a Fleetwood Mac tribute album. In 2014, she released Give My Love to London, an album of new songs. She then started a 50th-anniversary tour. Her album Negative Capability was released in 2018.

In May 2021, she released a spoken word album called She Walks in Beauty. On this album, she recites poems by 19th-century British Romantic poets. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Marianne Faithfull among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Achievements and Recognition

In 1999, VH1 ranked Marianne Faithfull 25th on its list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll.

In 2007, she was nominated for Best Actress at the European Film Academy for her role as Maggie in the film Irina Palm.

On 5 March 2009, Marianne Faithfull received the World Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. This award recognized her contributions to the arts over a 45-year career. The ceremony was televised in over 40 countries.

On 23 March 2011, France awarded Marianne Faithfull the Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is one of France's highest cultural honors.

Awards and Nominations

Music Albums

Studio albums

Acting Career

Besides her music, Marianne Faithfull also had a career as an actress. She performed in plays, on television, and in films.

Her first professional play was in 1967. She played Irina in Chekhov's Three Sisters in London. The year before, she appeared as herself in Jean-Luc Godard's film Made in U.S.A.. Marianne also acted in the 1967 film I'll Never Forget What's'isname. In 1968, she starred as a motorcyclist in the film The Girl on a Motorcycle. This film helped her become more famous in France. In 1969, she played Ophelia in Hamlet in London. This play was later made into a film.

Her stage work included plays like Early Morning and The Collector. She also played Lizzie Curry in The Rainmaker, which toured the UK. In the 1970s, her film roles included Sophy Kwykwer in Ghost Story.

In 1991, she played Pirate Jenny in The Threepenny Opera in Dublin. Later, she performed Kurt Weill's "The Seven Deadly Sins" with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Marianne Faithfull has played both God and the Devil in her acting roles. She appeared as God in two guest appearances on the British TV show Absolutely Fabulous. In 2004 and 2005, she played the Devil in the musical The Black Rider.

In 2001, Marianne appeared in the films Far from China and Intimacy. In 2006, she played Empress Maria Theresa in Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette.

Marianne Faithfull starred in the film Irina Palm, released in 2007. She was nominated for an award for her role in this film. In 2008, she narrated the film Evil Calls: The Raven. She also toured, reading Shakespeare's sonnets.

In 2011 and 2012, Marianne had supporting roles in the films Faces in the Crowd and Belle du Seigneur. From October 2012 to January 2013, she starred in a production of Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins in Austria.

In 2013, Marianne Faithfull was featured on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. On the show, she explored her family's history, especially her mother's family in Austria before World War II.

TV and Film Roles

Stage Performances

Books Written by Marianne Faithfull

• Faithfull: An Autobiography, Marianne Faithfull (1994), Cooper Square Press
• Memories, Dreams & Reflections, Marianne Faithfull (2008), Harper Perennial
• Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record, edited by Marianne Faithfull and Francois Ravard (2014), Rizzoli

Personal Life

Marianne Faithfull at the Women's World Awards in 2009

In 1988, Marianne Faithfull married writer and actor Giorgio Della Terza. They divorced in 1991.

Marianne Faithfull has one son, born in 1966.

See also

In Spanish: Marianne Faithfull para niños