Nathalie Baye: the actress has passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle against the disease.

Published on April 18, 2026 at 11:24

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

Nathalie Baye, an iconic figure in French cinema and mother of Laura Smet, had been a cause of concern for her health in recent months. She had canceled an appearance on July 10, 2025 for the inauguration of the Rose Days in Doué-la-Fontaine, Maine-et-Loire, due to hospitalization. Already fragile, she had encountered several health issues in recent years, especially after being hospitalized in 2020 for bronchopulmonary complications.

Iconic Nathalie Baye is no more

Discovered in 1973 in Francois Truffaut’s “Day for Night,” Nathalie Baye became one of the leading figures in French cinema. Throughout her career, she worked under renowned directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Nicole Garcia, Tonie Marshall, Xavier Dolan, and Steven Spielberg. The former partner of Johnny Hallyday was a four-time recipient of the César award, including best actress in 1983 for “La Balance” and in 2006 for “The Young Lieutenant.”

Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard expressed her emotion at the loss of a “tremendous actress” to Agence France-Presse. She praised Baye’s exceptional career, highlighting how she “lit up a long page of French cinema history with her talent and luminous personality,” before extending condolences to “the film world and all those who loved her.”

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

But perhaps her most beautiful role will remain as a mother, to her only daughter Laura Smet, born in 1984 from her relationship with Johnny Hallyday. Separated from the singer since 1986, Nathalie Baye always watched over her with great discretion and constant tenderness. The two women, close but private, faced life’s challenges together, including recent years marked by public tensions within the Hallyday family.

Mother and daughter also shared the screen several times, notably in Xavier Beauvois’ “The Guardians” in 2017. A precious experience for Laura Smet, who expressed 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 with us, leaving Laura Smet, her loved ones, and the film world in mourning.