The multi-Caesar-winning French actress Nathalie Baye, with a luxuriant and international filmography, died at the age of 77 in Paris, her relatives announced to AFP on Saturday.
This very discreet star, who played in films by François Truffaut, Xavier Dolan, Bertrand Blier and Claude Chabrol, died “Friday evening at his Parisian home from Lewy body disease”, his family, including his daughter Laura Smet, told AFP in a joint statement.
This neurodegenerative disease manifests itself as a combination of disorders similar to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Audacious, Nathalie Baye knew how to break her classic and wise image to give free rein to her fantasy and offer herself an impressive filmography. From François Truffaut (“American Night”) to Xavier Dolan (“Just the End of the World”) via Bertrand Blier (“Our Story”), Tonie Marshall (“Venus Beauty”) and Claude Chabrol (“The Flower of Evil”).
She made a short trip to Hollywood, playing Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother in Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can”.
She was revealed to the public in 1973 in “La Nuit Americaine” by François Truffaut and saw her notoriety explode after “Sauve qui peut (la vie)” in 1980.
Former companion of Johnny Hallyday (1982-1986), the French actress, loved by film buffs and the general public alike, was a multiple César winner, winning the statuette three years in a row from 1981 to 1983.
Nathalie Baye, who had not appeared publicly for several months, had canceled her presence at an event last July but her daughter Laura Smet then denied rumors of hospitalization at the time.
In 2023, the actress signed a platform of 109 personalities to call on President Emmanuel Macron to change the law on end of life.
