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Boyfriend of British Spider-Man actress quizzed over death
Peter Allen21 May 2009
The boyfriend of British actress whose lifeless body was found hanged in her Paris flat was being questioned by police today.
While police initially ruled out foul play and described it as suicide, the 28-year-old's death is under judicial investigation.
Detectives have been told that her boyfriend, who had not been named, was heard arguing with Miss Gordon on Tuesday night. The young actress was just two days from her 29th birthday.
The body of Lucy Gordon, who had starred in a number of big budget Hollywood films including Spider Man 3, was found suspended from the ceiling of her £2,000-a-month mansion block two bedroom rented apartment in the bohemian 10th arrondissement of Paris.
Miss Gordon, who also worked as a model, appeared in Spider-Man 3, playing the role of Jennifer Dugan, a British reporter. She was born in Oxford and is thought to have just completed filming a biopic of French singer Serge Gainsbourg in which she played the role of his lover Jane Birkin. The film is due out next year.
Her US agent, Jean-Louis Diamonika, said Miss Gordon had taken her own life. But police started questioning her boyfriend after neighbours reported the couple had rowed on Tuesday night.
The unnamed neighbour said: "It might not have been anything too serious, but they clearly weren't getting on."
The unnamed boyfriend has told police that he was sleeping' while Miss Gordon hung herself.
Police made the grisly discovery after entering the flat close to the River Seine yesterday morning. “It was a horrific scene,” said one. “The young woman had taken her own life in terrible circumstances. We are not seeking anyone else. It was a clear case of suicide.”
It later emerged that a boyfriend was in the flat at the time of Miss Gordon's suicide.
The unnamed man has told police that he was “sleeping” while Miss Gordon hanged herself. He then rushed down into the street below, screaming: “Call the police – my friend has hanged herself.”
He also told police that Miss Gordon had been deeply affected by the recent suicide of a friend back in Britain
One local added: “She was an adorable girl. Two days ago, we were chatting over a drink. You think people are stable and then...”
Miss Gordon had just played the actress and singer Jane Birkin in a biopic about the late French singer Serge Gainsbourg currently being previewed at the Cannes Film Festival.
Miss Gordon's English Rose good looks and passion for France had seen her compared to Miss Birkin, Gainsbourg's muse, in real life.
A festival organiser said: “We are devastated by this news. All those attending the festival had been hugely impressed by Lucy's work. She was a star in the making.”
In all Miss Gordon had appeared in about a dozen films, having made her screen debut in 2001.
She had recently moved to Paris from New York, and appeared to have everything to live for.
Miss Gordon also had a starring role in a new French comedy Cineman, due out later this year, and a larger part in the romantic comedy The Russian Dolls in which she costarred with Audrey Tautou. She was also in Perfume in 2001.
Reader views (20)
It's so unfortunate! Her death should serve as a lesson to everyone out there. We should always be sensitive to the the needs of our loved ones (esp. the need to be heard and understood). Ms. Gordon may have had exhibited unusual behaviour prior to her death. Let's pray for her eternal repose and to the loved ones she left behind.
- Mary, singapore, 29/05/2009 02:17
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Luvy Mae clearly hasn't suffered any kind of depression to come out with such a silly statement. I do not think anyone takes their life on impulse, so she must have been pretty desperate to do so. It sounds like she waited before her boyfriend was asleep before she ended her life.
As for Mini's comment, what would you consider a "tangible reason" to end your life? You have no idea how this poor young lady felt. No doubt she should have just "pulled herself together?"
My condolences to Ms Gordon's family, and the poor boyfriend who found her.
- Sonia M., St Albans, Herts, 22/05/2009 15:28
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I always find it very disturbing when people kill themselves without a tangible reason. This young woman was beautiful, successful, loved and could have gotten help had she asked for it.
- Mimi, Paris, France, 21/05/2009 17:24
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I have suffered from depression for many year, and true I have felt like I was in a black hole that I can't get out of Luvy Mae is right it is a selfish thing to do to take your own life,if it is not more sinister than that and yes a lot of people probably would wish they had her life.
I know people personally, depressed, no friends, no job no family and they don't take their own life.
I feel sorry for the family that she has left behind.
- Barbara James, England, 21/05/2009 16:48
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I agree with the previous sentiments expressed by the people before me, it is shockingly sad, when someone who is successful takes their own life (or indeed anyone does).
I lost a close family member to suicide a few years ago, they were also very successful and relatively famous. No one can explain what this woman was going through. But it was her decision to make and if she felt that it was the only way, her last action should be respected.
I do find it a little odd that her boyfriend was in the flat at the time; suicide seems such a personal thing, I can't imagine what that person must have been going through upon finding her.
And Luvy Mae, just because someone is famous and is admired by people, does not mean that they don't get depressed like the rest of us. But you are right, it is very sad, but each suicide is sad, hers is no more or less so because of her fame.
- Wombat, A kitchen table, UK, 21/05/2009 16:31
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How very very sad and tragic i offer my condolances too. A beautiful talented young woman who should have had everything to live for, and probably desperately needed help how can someone so high profile have slipped through the net? Its so very very sad. God bless you Lucy.
- Dianne, Derby UK, 21/05/2009 15:24
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Luvy Mae, have you perhaps lost someone dear to suicide? That is the only reasonable explanation I can think of for your angry comment. This just goes to show that depressive states are no respecter of whatever else someone has going for them. I see sense in the old coroners' description that the balance of the mind must have been disturbed. It is a kinder than your attitude.
- Paul, London UK, 21/05/2009 14:13
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suicide is when someone cannot see any other way out. She was obviously depressed about something and had no one to talk to or so no end - who knows what pressures she was under to decide to take her own life...who knows if that was the case or if it was more sinister?...
- Black Cabbie, London, England, 21/05/2009 14:10
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Luvy Mae, very harsh words for someone who was obviously suffering a great deal. Really sad to hear comments like yours, and by the other responses they feel the same.
- Mike, London, 21/05/2009 14:05
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How can anybody think that someone who takes their own life is selfish?
For whatever reason you take your life, you have to be in a very very bad place to resort to such measures. People who haven't suffered depression or mental health problems will never understand the way they can override rational thought. I'm sure this woman thought over and over again about the ramifications of taking her own life, but something just told her she couldn't go on and pushed her over the edge.
What a terrible shame. I offer her family my deepest condolances.
- Steven, Hammersmith, 21/05/2009 13:00
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What a dreadful shame
- Rebecca, Newcastle, England, 21/05/2009 12:38
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Luvy Mae, sometimes it's best not to say what you think all the time. This is one of those times for you. You disgust me and I am certain Lucy's family and friends couldn't give a fig what you think about the situation.
Here's how it is done:
My deepest condolences are extended to Lucy's family and loved ones at this very difficult time. Bernice.
- Bernice, London, 21/05/2009 12:29
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Luvy Mae your comment is totally bigoted. You are very lucky that you have evidently never suffered mental illness and despair. People who takes their lives are in extreme distress. This is a tragedy. RIP Lucy and condolences to her family and friends.
- Real, London, 21/05/2009 12:28
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I don't think she was selfish. Obviously intelligent,beautiful and talented. I wish I'd have known her. I would have tried to help her.
- David, Yorkshire, 21/05/2009 12:22
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How dare you call her selfish? You have no idea what was going through her mind when she did this! Suicide is a terribly sad thing
- Ady Miles, Wolverhampton, UK, 21/05/2009 12:01
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"she has a life that many people would wish for"Luvy Mae, What a sad statement you make,plainly she didn't,have you ever heard of depression?Your lack of insight stuns me,plainly she felt so bad inside so much so that she found it utterly unbearable,and ur use of the word selfish is crass beyond belief.I worry about people like you.
- Kev, London-UK, 21/05/2009 11:55
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Oh don't be so sanctimonious Luvy Mae.
People who take their own lives do so for any number of reasons, but chiefly because they feel they are unable to cope any more. Calling someone 'selfish' because they are so desperate they don't know what else to do is just ignorant and cruel.
But yes, sympathies for her family and friends.
- John T, London, 21/05/2009 11:43
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Very tragic. Sometimes people can have everything but still have nothing.
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London, 21/05/2009 11:05
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i think people who take their own lives are selfish. my sympathy and thoughts are with her family.
so sad
she has a life that many people would wish for and she does somthing like this . so sad
- Luvy Mae, balham, united kingdom, 21/05/2009 10:40
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What on Earth could have made her do that? The poor girl; she had everything to live for. How sad for her family and friends.
- Kate, London, 21/05/2009 10:25
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