French actor Nathalie Baye dies at 77

French actor Nathalie Baye, widely known to global audiences for playing Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother in Catch Me If You Can, died at the age of 77 in Paris on April 17 after battling Lewy body dementia.

Her family confirmed the news, stating that she had been unwell and away from the public eye for several months. Tributes followed from across the film world, with French President Emmanuel Macron remembering her as an actor audiences had “loved, dreamed, and grown up” with.

Baye’s career spanned nearly five decades, during which she appeared in close to 80 films across French and international cinema. A respected name in the industry, she received 10 Cesar Award nominations and won four times.

Born on July 6, 1948, in Normandy, Baye initially trained as a dancer before moving into acting. She gained early recognition with Franois Truffaut’s 1973 film Day for Night, where she played a script assistant. Over the years, she worked with



leading directors including Jean-Luc Godard, Maurice Pialat and Claude Chabrol.

Her later work saw collaborations with Xavier Dolan in films such as Laurence Anyways and It’s Only the End of the World. In 2015, she appeared in the series Call My Agent! alongside her daughter, Laura Smet. Her final screen appearance was in Downton Abbey: A New Era.

Lewy body dementia is a progressive condition that can lead to cognitive decline, movement issues, depression and hallucinations. Despite her illness, Baye remained regarded as one of France’s most accomplished performers.

Off-screen, Baye maintained a private life but was known for her relationships with actor-poet Philippe Lotard and musician Johnny Hallyday, with whom she had her daughter Laura. She is survived by her family, including her brother and grandson.

Beyond cinema, Baye also supported causes such as climate awareness and debates around assisted dying laws in France.