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British Spider-Man 3 actress wrote two suicide notes before hanging herself
Robert Mendick and Peter Allen22.05.09
British actress Lucy Gordon left two suicide notes before hanging herself in her Paris apartment, her father said today.
Miss Gordon, 28, detailed her last wishes on one piece of paper and left a letter for her parents Richard and Susan Gordon on another.
Mr Gordon said a post-mortem proved she had died from hanging and that no other marks were found on her body. He released details today to end any speculation that Miss Gordon's death might be anything other than suicide.
Mr Gordon, 60, from Oxford, said today: “There is no question of foul play. Lucy committed suicide. Police are not investigating anything else. There are no signs of a struggle.
“She has left a note to us and a letter detailing her last wishes regarding her own estate.”
It emerged today that Miss Gordon's boyfriend was asleep in the Paris apartment when the actress hanged herself on Tuesday night. Mr Gordon said: “We know him and we like him. We speak to him daily and he is also distraught.”
Miss Gordon was on the brink of stardom after starring in two French-made films due to be released in the coming months.
Mr Gordon has not seen the suicide notes. Yesterday he said he was baffled as to why she might have killed herself.
His daughter was signed up as a professional model aged just 14 but had set her heart on being an actress from a very young age. She had a minor role in Spider-Man 3 but was increasingly getting larger parts while attracting critical acclaim.
The autopsy took place at the Paris medical legal institute (Institut médico-légal) following the discovery of the 28-year-old's body hanging from the ceiling of her flat.
Oxford-born Miss Gordon would have turned 29 today, and had been expected to celebrate with close family and friends in France.
Early police and judicial enquiries suggest that she took her own life on Tuesday night while her boyfriend slept nearby.
Neighbours had reported shouts suggesting the couple had been arguing before the fateful night, but stressed that it sounded like nothing more than a lovers' tiff.
Miss Gordon had recently moved to Paris full time from New York.
The boyfriend has been questioned at length by detectives, but they remain convinced that there was no foul play involved in the sudden death of the young actress.
He has cooperated fully with police from the start, making a clear and consistent statement about what happened in the £2000-a-month rented mansion flat in Paris's 10th arrondissement.
They have so far refused to name the boyfriend, thought to be in his 30s, who is still in a state of "some shock".
"The autopsy is a routine procedure which follows an apparent suicide," said a French police spokesman. "Hanging appears to be the obvious cause of death, considering the horrific circumstances in which the young woman was found."
Miss Gordon made her screen debut in 2001 and appeared in around a dozen films, including Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
In one of her most recent roles, she played the 60s actress and singer Jane Birkin in a French biopic of singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.
The actress played television reporter Jennifer Dugan in the third installment of Spider-Man and had most recently acted in Brief Interviews With Hideous Men.
On Thursday Miss Gordon's parents paid tribute to their "lovely and generous" daughter.
Speaking from the family home in Oxford, Mr Gordon said: "The whole family is so proud of Lucy and we always have been. We have loved her so much throughout her life.
"She was the light of mine, her mum Sue's, and her sister Katie's lives."
Reader views (4)
This is sad. I just had a longtime friend of 35 years commit suicide a few day ago,& I did'nt see it coming. We met when we were 5 & grew up together. I knew he had issues, but we all do.
The sad thing is, you look back & see clues & hints of what was coming. I say this because Ms.Gordon's family & friends will look back & probably see signs that they missed. Little things that don't really stand out until it's too late. I have no idea what it is like to think that your life needs to be over, & you need to end it. Sadly the light at the end of the tunnel is not always daylight, but an oncoming train.
May Lucy Gordon be at peace, & bless her family & friends at thier loss.
- Danybhoy, minnesota usa
What a Horrible loss for Lucy Gordon's Family and all of her fans, world wide.
I am so sorry for all of her Family. Lucy will be Greatly Missed. She was most Beautiful and so Talented.
I pray that God will bring Lucy's Family Comfort and piece of mind in this difficult time.
- Sunny, USA
I am devistated. What a waste of such a promising life. What must the poor thing have been going through - it is such a fine line between normality and mental breakdown. There, but for the grace of God go all of us. I know she has found peace in the arms of the Lord.
My heart-felt condolences to all the family and those who loved her - I really feel some of their pain.
Peter in London
- Peter, London. UK
What a great shame, What a loss, So Very sad.
- Peter S Hunn, St Albans
