French film icon and 'Downtown Abbey' star Nathalie Baye dies at 77 after dementia diagnosis

French cinema legend Nathalie Baye has died at the age of 77, according to French media reports.

Baye, one of France’s most celebrated actresses, died at her home in Paris on Friday evening following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, her family told AFP.

Paying tribute, President Emmanuel Macron described her as “an actress with whom we loved, dreamed and grew up,” adding that she had been a constant presence in French cinema for decades.

Born in Normandy in 1948 into a family of artists, Baye began her career as a dancer before transitioning into acting. She rose to prominence in the early 1970s, with her breakout role in Day for Night directed by François Truffaut.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Baye appeared in around 80 films and became one of France’s most decorated performers.

She won four César Awards, France’s equivalent of the Oscars, including her first in 1981 for her role in Sauve qui peut (la vie) directed by Jean-Luc Godard. She went on to win further honours for Une étrange affaire and La Balance.

Her international recognition grew with her award-winning performance in An Affair of Love, which earned her best actress at the Venice Film Festival. She later appeared in global productions such as Catch Me If You Can, where she played the mother of Leonardo DiCaprio.

In more recent years, Baye continued working in film and television, including a cameo as herself in Call My Agent! alongside her daughter Laura Smet, and a role in Downton Abbey: A New Era. Her final on-screen appearance came in the 2023 drama La nuit du verre d'eau.

Baye shared her daughter with Johnny Hallyday, whose death in 2017 prompted nationwide mourning in France. French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard paid tribute to Baye’s legacy, saying she “lit up a long chapter in the history of French cinema with her talent and radiant personality.”

Beyond her acting career, Baye was also known for her advocacy, including support for climate action and assisted dying reform. Her death marks the end of an era for French cinema, with tributes pouring in for a performer whose work shaped generations of audiences.