If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you may remember her—but Nathalie Baye was far more than that.
The legendary French actress has died at 77 in Paris after battling Lewy body dementia, her family confirmed.
Baye starred in over 100 films and won four César Awards, becoming one of France’s most respected performers. International audiences also knew her as Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother in Catch Me If You Can and from Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Born in Normandy in 1948, she left school at 14 due to learning difficulties and began as a dancer before rising to fame in the 1970s, working with directors like François Truffaut.
She later had a high-profile relationship with Johnny Hallyday and is survived by her daughter, actress Laura Smet.
Remembered as warm, loyal, and full of life, Baye leaves behind a legacy that shaped French cinema and touched audiences worldwide.