In 2026, a year marked by many losses, Nathalie Baye unfortunately joined this dark series. The actress passed away at the age of 77, after battling Lewy body disease (MCL). It was a tough ordeal for her only daughter, Laura Smet, who had already lost her father, Johnny Hallyday. Throughout her last years, Nathalie Baye could rely on the unwavering support of her daughter, who stood by her during her illness.
“Nathalie was very strong. And you know, I have the feeling that this strength, this composure that Nathalie had, has been passed on to Laura. Laura was truly amazing. She made sure Nathalie stayed at home until the end. She protected her mother a lot. I believe that when you lose the people you love very much, what you recognized in them passes on to you,” revealed director Bruno Chiche to Paris Match.
Laura Smet has two godfathers: one chosen by Nathalie Baye and one chosen by Johnny Hallyday, as confirmed by Nathalie Baye’s agent, Dominique Besnehard. “I think of Laura, her daughter, of whom I am the godfather. She showed exceptional courage with her mother in recent days. In eight years, Laura became an orphan of both her parents,” he told Paris Match. Contrary to tradition, Laura Smet has not just one but two godfathers. The first chosen by her mother and the second by Johnny Hallyday, who happened to be Eddy Mitchell. The 83-year-old singer, whose real name is Claude Moine, was very close to the Taulier. It was thanks to him that he also ventured into music. Protective of Laura, he did not hesitate to defend her during the controversy surrounding Johnny Hallyday’s inheritance. Although Eddy Mitchell has been low-key lately, he did attend Nathalie Baye’s funeral with his wife Muriel. A discreet but noteworthy appearance!
Recently, Voici magazine exclusively revealed why Laeticia Hallyday did not react to Nathalie Baye’s passing. “Laeticia considered that it would have been poorly received by Johnny’s daughter if she had spoken publicly,” a source told Voici. It was a sign of respect not to upset Laura Smet, with whom relations have been strained since Johnny Hallyday’s passing and the legal battle over the Taulier’s inheritance.
