Famous French actress Nathalie Baye has passed away. Known for her roles in Downton Abbey: A New Era and Catch Me If You Can, Baye was 77 years old. The information was shared by her family in a statement to Agence France-Presse, revealing that she died on Friday at her home in Paris due to complications from Lewy body dementia.

Born on July 6, 1948, in Mainneville, Eure, Normandy, Baye began her career in the 1970s and appeared in over 80 films. She graduated from France's Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique (National Academy of Dramatic Arts) in 1972 and made her film debut that same year in Robert Wise's Two People. She proved herself in Truffaut's Day for Night, The Man Who Loved Women, and The Green Room, as well as in Jean-Luc Godard's Every Man for Himself, Detective, and Le Retour de Martin Guerre projects, and in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning Catch Me If You Can, where she played the mother of Leonardo DiCaprio's Frank Abagnale Jr. and starred opposite Tom Hanks.

Baye's artistic achievements were recognized internationally. She was nominated for the prestigious César Award 10 times, winning it 4 times for the films Every Man for Himself (1980), Strange Affair (1981), La Balance (1982), and The Young Lieutenant (2005). Toward the end of her career, she appeared in the legendary actress Maggie Smith's Downton Abbey: A New Era in 2022. The film Mother Valley in 2023 was Baye's last cinematic work.

Baye gave birth to her daughter Laura Smet with late French singer Johnny Hallyday. Laura is also an actress and shared the stage with her mother in an episode of Call My Agent! in 2015. Recently, Laura was cast in the fourth season of HBO's The White Lotus.

Following the news of Nathalie Baye's death, French President Emmanuel Macron published a condolence message on his social media accounts. In a post on the X platform, Macron stated, "We loved Nathalie Baye very much. She guided the entire era of recent French cinema, from François Truffaut to Tonie Marshall, with her voice, smile, and delicate demeanor. We loved, dreamed, and grew with her. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones."