Many people came to bid farewell to Nathalie Baye, the elegant and discreet icon of French cinema. She passed away at the age of 77 on April 17th due to a neurodegenerative disease that also affected Robin Williams and Catherine Laborde, called Lewy body disease. Her only daughter, Laura Smet, born from her relationship with Johnny Hallyday, announced the actress’s passing to close friends, before sharing the sad news with the AFP. The mother of young Léo carefully prepared the final goodbyes to the one who took “half of her heart” with her. She received invaluable help from her godfather, Dominique Besnehard. The funeral took place at the Saint Sulpice church in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, exactly a week after the actress’s tragic death. The public ceremony was attended by around 400 guests, including prominent personalities who came to pay their last respects to Laura Smet’s mother, such as Claire Chazal, Michel Drucker, Benjamin Biolay, Eddy Mitchell, and Catherine Deneuve.
Laura then spoke with pain about her deeply close relationship with her mother. She described her mother as genuine, tender, fair, and strong, always putting others before herself. Laura highlighted the special bond she shared with her mother, who supported her through the most difficult times, providing love, strength, and comfort. Contrary to initial plans of burial in the province, Nathalie Baye was laid to rest at the Montparnasse cemetery on Saturday, April 25th. The discreet ceremony was attended by a small group of close family and friends, in accordance with the wish to maintain privacy. This decision was orchestrated by her close friend, Dominique Besnehard, who ensured the intimate nature of the burial.
There were speculations about Nathalie Baye being buried in Creuse, as she had a strong connection to the region where she once owned a house she dearly missed. However, ultimately, Paris was chosen for the burial, providing easier access for Laura, close friends, and admirers to pay their respects.
