Throughout much upheaval and tragedy over the past three decades, Bob Geldof’s current wife Jeanne Marine has been credited as the Geldof family’s ‘rock’.
The singer, 73, has previously credited the French actress, 59, with ‘saving his soul’ and insisted that without her help raising his daughters, they ‘wouldn’t have survived’.
The couple first began dating after meeting a dinner party in 1996, where the Boomtown Rats star had fled in a fit of depression over his divorce from his first wife, Paula Yates.
They quickly became inseparable, though remained tight-lipped about their romance, moving in together in London.
Born Jeanne Lallemand in Paris, Jeanne changed her surname to Marine because she was often called La Boche (the German).
She previously told the Evening Standard that she dreamed of being a ballerina as a child but ‘was too fat’.
Throughout much upheaval and tragedy over the past three decades, Bob Geldof ‘s current wife Jeanne Marine has been credited as the Geldof family’s ‘rock’ (seen together last May)
The singer, 73, has previously credited the French actress, 59, with ‘saving his soul’ and insisted that without her help raising his daughters, they ‘wouldn’t have survived’ (daughters Fifi, Pixie, Peaches and Tiger Lily in 2004)
The couple first began dating after meeting a dinner party in 1996 (pictured), where the Boomtown Rats star had fled in a fit of depression over his divorce from first wife, Paula Yates
She said: ‘They called me Le Petit Boudin – the Little Sausage. But I did a lot of sport and yoga to lose weight.’
Instead, Jeanne became an actress but her star has never ascended to the same dazzling heights as Bob.
Through the 80s and 90s she enjoyed a number of small parts in several French projects, including Paulette in 1985, with her last role as reoccurring character Charlotte Miquel in 12 episodes of Paris City Cop from 1998 to 2005.
Her most famous role was as Princess Isabelle’s handmaiden Nicolette in 1995 historical epic Braveheart, a part that was so small that Mel Gibson nicknamed her ‘The Mouse.’
Jeanne first crossed paths with her future husband in 1990, while Bob was recording The Vegetarians Of Love LP.
And despite their first meeting being brief, the musician has admitted he was immediately struck by her beauty, telling the Irish Independent: ‘She was going out with an actor. I thought she was a staggering beauty, Brigitte Bardot.’
But the pair didn’t begin their own romance until six years later, after they met again at a dinner party in Paris, thanks to some match-making work by pals.
Bob explained: ‘[Some friends] gave me the dinner to help me out and invited Jeanne. ‘He’s on his own; you’re single.’ That was the sort of match-making thing, I guess.’
Through the 80s and 90s she enjoyed a number of small parts in several French projects, including Paulette in 1985 (pictured) with her last role as reoccurring character Charlotte Miquel in 12 episodes of Paris City Cop from 1998 to 2005
He added: ‘She is a really lovely person. She enabled me to take care of my children.’
Describing the beginning of their love story in 2012, the Live Aid founder admitted he hadn’t been on the look out for a relationship, believing he was ‘ruined’ and would never find love again after his bitter divorce from Paula.
He gushed: ‘I found love in the shape of a woman called Jeanne. I wasn’t looking for it. I’m so lucky, someone is looking after me.
‘It was an improbable encounter between a woman who doesn’t speak English and a boy who doesn’t speak French, between a stunning, beautiful woman and a ruined, ruined man.
‘Why did she like me? It is a late realisation for the ageing Geldof that all humans are loveable. I love her. I thought I would never get this again.’
Four years into their relationship, Bob’s ex-wife Paula tragically died of a heroin overdose in 2000, leaving behind her three daughters with Bob and her youngest child Tiger Lily, who she welcomed with late partner Michael Hutchence.
Tiger Lily, who was four at the time, already knew Bob well, having regularly stayed with him when Paula was struggling in the years after Michael’s death.
Bob and Jeanne took her in as their own, with the hitmaker becoming her legal guardian and officially adopting her in 2007, determined to raise Tiger far from the showbusiness spotlight.
Four years into their relationship, Bob’s ex-wife Paula tragically died of a heroin overdose in 2000, leaving behind her three daughters with Bob and her youngest child Tiger Lily, who she welcomed with late partner Michael Hutchence (Michael, Paula and Tiger Lily in 1996)
Bob and Jeanne took her in as their own, with the hitmaker becoming her legal guardian and officially adopting her in 2007, determined to raise Tiger far from the showbusiness spotlight (pictured together in 2010)
But Bob has admitted that the arrival of Tiger also cemented the couple’s choice not to have any children of their own together, as he felt he ‘couldn’t do it any more’ (pictured in 2015)
While Jeanne’s influence has been credited for helping support the little girl through the difficult period and loss of her mother.
Paula’s former publicist and biographer Gerry Agar previously told DailyMail: ‘Tiger was totally raised and totally loved by Bob’s wife Jeanne, so she has such stability.
‘They have been very strict with her and Tiger is incredibly unlike Peaches. She wants to please them.’
But Bob has admitted that the arrival of Tiger also cemented the couple’s choice not to have any children of their own together, as he felt he ‘couldn’t do it any more.’
He previously told the Independent: ‘When Tiger came to us, you know… So here was a little sprog. So there was no energy to have another one. I wouldn’t want one.’
He has frequently credited Jeanne with helping him raise daughters, Fifi, Pixie, Peaches and Tiger Lily and paid tribute to her through his music in 2002, singing ‘Jeanne saved my soul again last night’ in song 10:15 from Sex Age & Death.
But in 2014, the family were struck by further tragedy when Peaches tragically died of a heroin overdose at her home in Kent, the same way her mother Paula died 14 years earlier.
The model was just 25 years old when she died, leaving behind husband Thomas Cohen and their two sons Astala and Phaedra.
He has frequently credited Jeanne with helping him raise daughters, Fifi, Pixie, Peaches and Tiger Lily (seen together in 2005) and paid tribute to her through his music in 2002
In 2014, the family were struck by further tragedy when Peaches tragically died of a heroin overdose at her home in Kent, the same way her mother Paula died 14 years earlier (seen in 2013)
The day after her funeral, Bob proposed to Jeanne – a decision which he said ‘brought air into the room’ when Fifi and Pixie were ‘in agony’.
Explaining why he chose to propose the day after burying Peaches, the star admitted he was already going to propose to his long-term love, but worried it might seem ‘inappropriate’, before realising the family needed ‘air’ to breathe.
Speaking to RTE Radio One, he recalled: ‘Peaches’ sisters were in agony. We could either let time do its thing but time doesn’t heal, it just accommodates.
‘You push it aside until it forces its way to the fore again. I thought “I have to do something”.’
He added: ‘I had planned to ask Jeanne to marry me. And then, because of Peaches, I thought it would be entirely inappropriate. But then we buried her and the next day I decided to let some air into the room.’
Bob has also detailed the emotional moment he asked Jeanne to be his wife in front of his entire family and close friends.
He said: ‘I asked a friend of ours to host a dinner for Jeanne’s birthday. I got the ring, which resembled the planet Mars in its girth and size.
‘I got up to thank her for the dinner and went on to say that I couldn’t have survived – and the children couldn’t have survived – without Jeanne.
The day after her funeral, Bob proposed to Jeanne – a decision which he said ‘brought air into the room’ when Fifi and Pixie were ‘in agony’ (pictured together in 2020)
‘All the women started blubbering and I dropped to one knee. She grabbed the ring and I grabbed it back and said, “No, you have to answer me first before you get it.” She said yes.’
Revealing the happy news at the time, friend of the couple Jerry Hall told the Mail: ‘Bob has proposed. She is over the moon.
‘Jeanne has been a rock and a tower of strength over this. I’m so excited for her I am bursting to tell someone.’
The couple were believed to have been originally planning to walk down the aisle in August at St Mary Magdalene & St Lawrence Church near their home in Faversham, Kent for its importance to the family.
The chapel is where Bob wed Paula in 1986, where Peaches married Thomas in 2012, and where both Paula and Peaches’ funerals were held.
However, Bob and Jeanne instead became husband and wife in the South of France in April 2015.
They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Rayol Canadel Sur Mer at a beachfront house near Nice, in the late afternoon with a reception held after.
Among the gathered guests were famous faces such as U2 frontman Bono, Demi Moore, Sarah Ferguson and Richard Branson.
Bob and Jeanne have since kept a notoriously low profile, although they have made a handful of public outings together over the years (seen together in November for Beatles ’64 premiere)
Bob and Jeanne have since kept a notoriously low profile, although they have made a handful of public outings together over the years.
In 2020 the prolific activist made rare public comment about their relationship, revealing the secret to their long-lasting chemistry.
He told The Tommy Tiernan Show: ‘That laser-driven [sex] drive of a 16-year-old clearly isn’t there. As you age it tempers… By 68, it doesn’t always need chemical assistance, but it f**king helps!’
He went on to add: ‘You must be very careful, because the beauty of a long-married wife hides in plain sight.
‘You must always look to that woman who animates you, so that once again she electrifies you.
‘It’s very easy with my missus who I’ve been with for 25 years. I’m sort of a one-woman geezer.’
Jeanne has also voiced her admiration for her partner, previously gushing: ‘I liked his elegance and his Irishness. Bob is exactly the kind of man I’ve always been waiting for.
Paying tribute to his wife in 2012, the Live Aid star added: ‘I adore Jeanne. You look around among the carnage and you are still standing’ (seen together in 1996)
‘He’s compassionate, charming, intelligent and, on top of that, good-looking. He’s the most handsome man in the world and I adore him.’
Returning the compliment, Bob said: ‘Jeanne insisted on finding something lovable in this most unlovable of men. This creature at his most ugly, physically and spiritually. I was detestable.’
Paying tribute to his wife in 2012, the Live Aid star added: ‘I adore Jeanne. You look around among the carnage and you are still standing.
‘And there is this exceptional and beautiful woman there — and I don’t just mean physically, though she is stunning.’
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