Musician Marianne Faithfull passes away at 78

Marianne Faithfull, singer, songwriter, and actress, has died at the age of 78.

A spokesperson confirmed the news, stating, "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."

Faithfull, known for her enduring hit "As Tears Go By," which was penned by The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, rose to fame in the 1960s. She was also recognized for her roles in films such as The Girl on a Motorcycle and Irina Palm, the latter of which earned her a nomination for a European Film Award for Best Actress.

Faithfull's career spanned across multiple decades, during which she released six albums in the 1960s alone, contributed backing vocals to The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine," and inspired the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil."

She also made her mark in cinema, featuring in films such as I'll Never Forget What's'isname, The Girl on a Motorcycle, and Tony Richardson's adaptation of Hamlet.

However, her life was not without struggles. After her relationship with Jagger ended, Faithfull faced homelessness and battled anorexia and heroin addiction, spending two years in Soho living in a squat.

In her 1994 autobiography, she reflected on this period, writing, "For me, being a junkie was an admirable life. It was total anonymity, something I hadn't known since I was 17."

Faithfull's resilience shone through as she made a remarkable comeback in 1979 with Dreamin' My Dreams, followed by the Grammy-nominated Broken English, widely regarded as her finest work. She later found acclaim as a jazz and blues artist with Strange Weather in 1987 and entered rehab during that decade.

She overcame breast cancer in 2006.