Danièle Ciarlet, also known as Zouzou, was a renowned and enigmatic figure of the 1960s Parisian scene. Discovered by young design artist Jean-Paul Goude at the age of 16, she briefly modeled for Yves Saint Laurent and gained notoriety as a tireless night-clubber, earning the nickname "Zouzou la twisteuse" in the early 1960s.
Her life took a dramatic turn when she became romantically involved with Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, whom she followed around the world. She was also close friends with John Lennon and George Harrison, and her path crossed with prominent figures such as Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and Jack Nicholson, with whom she maintained a lifelong friendship, along with Marianne Faithfull.
As a singer, Zouzou recorded two EPs in the late 1960s and collaborated with fellow French icon Dani on a duet. She also appeared in several underground and experimental French films, working with directors such as Philippe Garrel and Yves Lagrange.
Her breakthrough in cinematography came in 1972 with Eric Rohmer's L'amour l'après-midi, and she went on to develop an international acting career, which unfortunately slowed down due to her struggles with heroin addiction. She spent seven years on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélémy to overcome her addiction, but her return to Paris in the mid-1980s was marked by two jail incarcerations for minor drug-related offenses.
In the mid-1990s, Zouzou finally overcame her addiction and started a new chapter in her life, selling newspapers, including "La rue" and "Le réverbère", in the Parisian metro. In 2003, her autobiography, "Zouzou jusqu'à l'aube" ("Zouzou until Dawn"),was released, offering a candid account of her extraordinary life. A compilation of her songs and a documentary, "Zouzou l'héroïne", were also released, showcasing the remarkable story of one of the world's most beautiful women, often referred to as the "female Marlon Brando" during her heyday in the Parisian scene.
