The world is mourning the loss of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, who has died at the age of 78, her spokesperson has confirmed.

Tributes have poured in for the star, whose hits included As Tears Go By, a song written by The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Alongside her music career, she also appeared in films such as The Girl on a Motorcycle and several theatre productions.

From 1966 to 1970, Marianne was in a highly publicised, on-and-off relationship with Sir Mick following his split from model and actress Chrissie Shrimpton.

She was famously found wearing nothing but a rug during an infamous drugs raid at Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards’ country house, Redlands, in 1967.

As stories and memories of the late star circulate, MailOnline looks back at Marianne’s relationship with the rock and roll legend.

Marianne and Mick’s Relationship

Marianne and Mick reportedly began their romance in 1966, two years after the release of As Tears Go By, which was co-written by Mick and his bandmate Keith Richards.

Prior to this, she had been in a relationship with artist John Dunbar, with whom she had a son.

In 1967, at just 20 years old, Marianne became one of the most talked-about women in Britain after the notorious police raid at Redlands.

Rumours swirled about drug use, and she was famously discovered wrapped only in a fur rug. Though she was present during the raid, she was not arrested. However, she attended court daily in support of Mick.

Marianne and Mick were together for four years before their relationship ended in 1970. She later blamed the collapse of their romance and her subsequent struggles on the drug trial.

“That drugs raid really damaged me,” she told Q Magazine. “It damaged our relationship, and [four years later] I was living on the street as a drug addict. Do I blame anyone or anything for that? I do blame the Redlands thing, yes.”

After moving in with Mick, Marianne became pregnant in 1968, but tragically suffered a miscarriage at seven months. They had planned to name their daughter Corrina.

Their relationship significantly influenced The Rolling Stones’ music. It reportedly inspired Sympathy for the Devil, while the album Beggars Banquet was influenced by a book Marianne gifted Mick, The Master and Margarita.

Often regarded as The Rolling Stones’ muse, Marianne also inspired Wild Horses and I Got the Blues, before co-writing Sister Morphine.

A Relationship Marked by Affairs

Despite their passionate romance, their relationship was reportedly fraught with infidelity.

Mick is alleged to have had an affair with Anita Pallenberg, who was Keith Richards’ partner at the time. In response, Marianne is said to have retaliated by becoming involved with Keith.

After their split, Marianne experienced significant hardship. She spent two years homeless on the streets of Soho while battling heroin addiction before moving into a squat.

A Resilient Comeback

Despite her struggles, Marianne made a triumphant return to music with the release of Broken English in 1979, an album now regarded as a classic.

Her voice was most recently featured in the 2021 remake of Dune and 2023’s Wild Summon.

Tributes to a Music Legend

Announcing her passing, her spokesperson released a statement:

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull.

Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”

Author J.K. Rowling paid tribute, writing on X:

“One of my favourite albums of all time. RIP Marianne.”

Broadcaster Tony Blackburn OBE added:

“Sorry to hear that 60s singer Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78.

She gave us some great songs to play. R.I.P.”

Fans also expressed their sorrow, with one writing:

“I refuse to even believe it, I am so heartbroken… Marianne Faithfull was one of my favourite musicians and an important part of The Rolling Stones’ history. Thank you for everything, Marianne.”

Another admirer shared:

“Marianne Faithfull. Always interesting and delightful.

Lucky enough to have been able to spend time with her over the years. 1946–2025. RIP.”

A Life of Triumph and Tragedy

Faithfull’s career began in 1964 after being discovered by Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham.

She reinvented herself in 1987 as a jazz and blues singer, earning critical acclaim with Strange Weather. During the same decade, she entered rehab.

Her final album, She Walks in Beauty (2021), was an experimental collaboration with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

In recent years, she enjoyed a resurgence, earning admiration from stars like Kate Moss and Courtney Love.

Battling Health Challenges

In 2006, it was announced that Faithfull had made a full recovery from breast cancer. Diagnosed in France in September that year, she was forced to postpone her world tour. However, as the cancer was detected in its early stages, she successfully underwent surgery and later resumed her tour.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared:

“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.”

Her cancer battle followed other health challenges. In 2004, she collapsed backstage at a concert and was forced to cancel her European tour.

In 2005, filmmaker Duncan Roy claimed Faithfull had stepped down from his film adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray due to a heart attack, a claim she later denied.

A Legacy That Lives On

The daughter of a British military officer and an Austro-Hungarian Jewish baroness, Faithfull continued to captivate audiences throughout her life.

She appeared in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette and made a guest appearance as ‘God’ in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

One of her early film roles was in I’ll Never Forget What’s ’Is Name, alongside Orson Welles, and The Girl on a Motorcycle.

Faithfull’s influence on music, fi

lm, and culture remains profound, cementing her legacy as a true icon of rock and roll.