Faithfull, an icon of the 1960s who is also a recovering heroin addict, mentioned the diagnosis on ITV1's "This Morning" program.

"I found out about 12 years ago," she said, adding she underwent treatment for the virus at the time.

Hepatitis C is usually transmitted blood-to-blood and can cause fatal liver problems.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and the virus can lay dormant for years.

Faithfull, 60, didn't link her illness to her past habits but she did admit she had taken "a lot of risks" in her younger years.

"I was incredibly lucky," she told "This Morning." "I shouldn't be alive, I know that. Life has become much more precious to me and my health has become much more precious to me."