Nathalie Baye: The actress has passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle with illness

Published on April 18, 2026 at 11:24

The French cinema has just lost one of its great figures. Nathalie Baye has passed away at the age of 77, as reported by Le Parisien on Saturday, April 18, 2026. In a statement, her family specified that the actress passed away at her Paris home on Friday, April 17, 2026. She was suffering from Lewy body disease, a neurodegenerative condition known for also affecting former TV presenter Catherine Laborde.

An emblematic figure in French cinema and the mother of Laura Smet, Nathalie Baye had her health condition causing concern in recent months. She notably canceled her appearance on July 10, 2025 at the inauguration of the Rose Days of Doué-la-Fontaine in Maine-et-Loire, due to hospitalization. Already weakened, she had faced several health issues in recent years, especially after a 2020 hospitalization for bronchopulmonary complications.

Nathalie Baye, iconic figure, is no longer

Revealed in 1973 in François Truffaut’s “Day for Night,” Nathalie Baye established herself as one of the leading figures in French cinema. Throughout her career, she worked with renowned filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, Nicole Garcia, Tonie Marshall, Xavier Dolan, and even Steven Spielberg. The former partner of Johnny Hallyday was honored four times by the César Awards, including Best Actress in 1983 for “La Balance” and in 2006 for “The Young Lieutenant.”

Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard expressed her emotions to Agence France-Presse regarding the loss of the “immense actress.” She praised Nathalie Baye’s exceptional career, highlighting how she “illuminated a long chapter of French cinema’s history with her talent and luminous personality” and offered condolences to “the world of cinema and all those who loved her.”

Her love story with Johnny Hallyday and the birth of her only daughter

But perhaps her greatest role will remain that of mother, alongside her only daughter Laura Smet, born in 1984 from her relationship with Johnny Hallyday. Separated from the singer since 1986, Nathalie Baye always discreetly and tenderly watched over her. Close but private, the two women faced life’s challenges together, including recent years marked by public tensions within the Hallyday clan.

Mother and daughter also shared the screen several times, notably in Xavier Beauvois’s “The Guardians” in 2017. A precious experience for Laura Smet, who shared on RTL that working with her mother was like “being able to borrow a Rolls-Royce.” A mutual pride for Nathalie Baye, who stated, “She plays incredibly well, I am very proud of her.” Today, Nathalie Baye is no longer, leaving Laura Smet, her loved ones, and the world of cinema in mourning.