Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1946) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marsha Hunt
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Hunt in 2005
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| Born | April 15, 1946 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Mike Ratledge
(m. 1967; died 2025) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts |
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Marsha Hunt (born April 15, 1946) is an American actress, novelist, singer, and former model who has spent most of her life in Britain and Ireland. She became famous in London for her role as Dionne in the popular rock musical Hair.
Hunt had a well-known relationship with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, and they have a daughter named Karis Jagger. She has also written three novels and three books about her own life, including one that honestly shares her experience with breast cancer.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marsha Hunt was born in Philadelphia in 1946. She grew up in different neighborhoods of the city and has fond memories of her time there. Her mother, Inez, was a librarian and her main parent. Her father, Blaire Theodore Hunt Jr., was one of the first Black psychiatrists in America, but he passed away when she was young. Hunt was raised by her mother, aunt, and grandmother.
Her family believed that education was very important, and Hunt was a great student. In 1960, her family moved to Kensington, California. In 1964, she began attending the University of California, Berkeley, where she took part in marches to protest the Vietnam War.
Career Beginnings in London
Moving to England
In 1966, Hunt traveled to London for what was meant to be a short trip. She quickly found opportunities there. She appeared as an extra in the film Blow-Up and began singing with Alexis Korner's band. She worked as a singer for 18 months to earn money.
In late 1966, Hunt met Mike Ratledge from the band Soft Machine. To help her get permission to stay in England, she and Ratledge got married on April 15, 1967. They were good friends for the rest of their lives, even after they separated. Ratledge passed away on February 5, 2025.
Music and Stage Fame
In 1967, Hunt joined the band Bluesology, where she sang alongside Reg Dwight, who would soon become famous as Elton John. The next year, she got the part of Dionne in the London production of the musical Hair.
Although she only had two lines, her performance got a lot of attention. Her picture was used on the poster for the show and appeared in many magazines. This role made her a star in England.
In 1969, she performed at the Isle of Wight festival. She also released her first single, a cover of "Walk on Gilded Splinters". Her first album, Woman Child, came out in 1971. Later, she led her own band called 22.
Modeling and Media
Three months after Hair opened, Hunt became the first Black model to appear on the cover of the British fashion magazine Queen. In 1968, she posed for a famous photograph taken by Patrick Lichfield, which appeared on the cover of British Vogue magazine in January 1969.
Many years later, in 2005, she recreated the pose for another photo with Lichfield. This new picture was taken just five weeks after she had surgery for breast cancer. It became the cover of her book Undefeated.
Relationship with Mick Jagger
Hunt met Mick Jagger in 1969. They had a relationship that lasted for about ten months. In 1970, their daughter, Karis, was born. Karis is Hunt's only child.
When Karis was young, Hunt went to court to make sure Jagger was officially recognized as her father. They reached an agreement, and Jagger set up a trust fund for Karis. As Karis grew older, she and her father became very close. He paid for her education at Yale University, and she has worked for his band. Jagger has been an important part of her life, attending her wedding and the birth of her son.
In 2012, Hunt sold love letters that Jagger had written to her in 1969. The letters were sold at an auction for a large amount of money.
Writing Career
Autobiographies and Novels
Hunt began her writing career in 1985. Her first book was an autobiography called Real Life: The Story of a Survivor. She has written two other books about her life, including Repossessing Ernestine, which is about her search for her grandmother's story. Her 2005 book, Undefeated, is a memoir about her fight against cancer.
She has also written three novels. Her first novel, Joy (1990), is about a woman in a singing group. Her other novels are Free (1992) and Like Venus Fading (1998).
Activism and Other Projects
In 1995, Hunt started the Saga Prize, an award for new Black writers born in Britain or Ireland. The prize helped discover talented authors like Diran Adebayo.
In 1999, she worked with prisoners at Dublin's Mountjoy Prison to create a book of their stories called The Junk Yard: Voices From An Irish Prison. The book was a bestseller in Ireland.
Acting Career
Theatre and Film
Besides her role in Hair, Hunt acted in many other stage plays. In 1971, she was in a rock-and-roll version of Othello called Catch My Soul. She later became a member of the famous Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Her film roles include appearances in Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), The Sender (1982), Never Say Never Again (1983), and Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985).
Television and Documentaries
Hunt also acted in television shows. In 1990, she played Bianca in a BBC production of Othello.
In 1997, she was featured in a documentary called Marsha Hunt's Philadelphia, where she shared her thoughts on her hometown. Another documentary, Beating Breast Cancer (2005), followed her journey after being diagnosed with cancer.
Overcoming Cancer
In 2004, Hunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery to remove the cancer, followed by other treatments like chemotherapy. After her surgery, she said she felt happy that the cancer was gone. She viewed her scar as a reminder of her survival.
In 2008, she spoke at a hospital opening in Dublin, sharing her story to show that it was possible to survive serious illness.
Personal Life
Hunt has lived in Ireland since 1995 and also has a home in France. She enjoys living a quiet life focused on her writing.
She has spoken about her identity as a person of mixed heritage, including African, American Indian, and European roots. She is featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., which celebrates the contributions of African Americans.
