Lucy Gordon (22 May 1980 – 20 May 2009) was an English actress and model. She became a face of CoverGirl in 1997 before starting an acting career. Her first film was Perfume in 2001 before going on to have small roles in Spider-Man 3, Serendipity and The Four Feathers. Gordon had played the actress and singer Jane Birkin in the film Gainsbourg, a biopic of singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Before the film was released, she hanged herself in her flat in Paris on 20 May 2009.[1]

Lucy Gordon
Gordon at the 2007 premiere of Spider-Man 3
Born(1980-05-22)22 May 1980
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Died20 May 2009(2009-05-20) (aged 28)
Paris, France
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1995–2009

Early life edit

Gordon was born in Oxford.[1] She went to Oxford High School where she passed nine GCSEs in 1997. She moved to Paris after living in New York for several years.[2]

Career edit

While in the fourth form of Oxford High School she was noticed by a talent-spotter from a modelling agency as she and her mother visited a Clothes Show Live exhibition.[citation needed] She went on to appear as one of the faces of CoverGirl and soon after she moved into acting. She was signed to Select modelling agency in London and had appeared in the covers of Italian Glamour and Elle.[citation needed]

Gordon made her film debut in the 2001 as the character Sarah in Perfume. She appeared alongside Heath Ledger in the 2002 film The Four Feathers. She appeared as the reporter Jennifer Dugan in the 2007 film Spider-Man 3.

Gordon played the actress and singer Jane Birkin in a film biopic of singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The film, entitled Serge Gainsbourg, vie héroïque was presented at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was released in early 2010. Gordon's father, Richard Gordon said that she had loved playing her latest role in this film about Gainsbourg.[3] The director Joann Sfar and the producers of the film Marc du Pontavice and Didier Lupfer released a statement that the film "owes a lot to the generosity, gentleness and immense talent of Lucy Gordon."[1]

Death edit

On 20 May 2009, Gordon was found hanging with an electrical wire in the Paris flat wardrobe she shared with her partner just two days short of her 29th birthday.[1][4] A French police official said she appeared to have committed suicide by hanging.[5] She left two suicide notes, one detailing her last wishes regarding her estate, the other a letter for her parents.

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Perfume Sarah
Serendipity Caroline Mitchell
2002 The Four Feathers Isabelle
2005 The Russian Dolls Celia Shelburn
2007 Spider-Man 3 Jennifer Dugan
Serial Sadie Grady
2009 The Last International Playboy Kate Hardwick
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Hitchhiker
Cinéman Viviane Cook Posthumous release
2010 Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) Jane Birkin Posthumous release; final role

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Stella China Episode: 'Office Party'

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Henry Samuel (21 May 2009). "British actress Lucy Gordon found dead in Paris flat". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  2. ^ "British star found dead in Paris". BBC. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  3. ^ French police confirm the death of actress Lucy Gordon Archived 26 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Enjoy France. (25 May 2009)
  4. ^ "Spider-Man's Lucy Gordon in Paris Suicide". Sky News. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  5. ^ Jean-Pierre Verges (21 May 2009). "Actress Lucy Gordon found dead at age 28 in Paris". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links edit