In brief
Nathalie Baye, one of France's most beloved film stars, has died at 77. A four-time César winner, Baye appeared in over 80 films, including international hits. Her family confirmed she passed away at home in Paris due to dementia. President Macron and fellow actors honored her as a cinematic icon who brought joy to generations.
One of France's most celebrated film stars, Nathalie Baye, has died aged 77, French media report. President Emmanuel Macron stated that the much-loved stalwart of French cinema had been an actress with whom we loved, dreamed and grew up. A four-time acting winner at the Césars - France's equivalent of the Oscars - Baye starred in around 80 films throughout her career, which began in the early 1970s.Her family shared the sad news that she had passed away at her home in Paris following a form of dementia. Born into a bohemian family of artists in Normandy in 1948, she transitioned from dancing to acting, landing her breakthrough role in François Truffaut's 1973 comedy La Nuit Américaine.Baye's career spanned five decades, culminating in numerous accolades including her first César in 1981 for a supporting role in Jean-Luc Godard's Sauve qui peut (la vie).Later, her career saw her take on international roles, such as in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me if You Can, where she played Leonardo DiCaprio's mother.Baye also returned to French television recently, appearing in acclaimed series Call My Agent! alongside her daughter. Her final on-screen performance was in the drama La nuit du verre d'eau (Mother Valley) in 2023.Tributes poured in from various figures, including fellow actors like Isabelle Adjani and Richard Berry, praising her spontaneity and the memories of their early cinematic days together. Macron further paid homage to her enduring presence in cinema, highlighting the deep connection audiences felt with her. Baye's family confirmed her passing followed a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.
