Nathalie Baye, a prolific French actress known in the U.S. for her roles in a Downton Abbey film and Catch Me If You Can, has died. She was 77.
Baye passed away at her home in Paris following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia, her family announced via the Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday. Lewy body dementia is a condition characterized by protein deposits in the brain that affect memory, movement, and cognitive function, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Born on July 6, 1948, Baye graduated from the Simon Course for the Academy in 1972. Over the course of her illustrious career, she appeared in approximately 80 films. Her talent was recognized with four César Awards—the French equivalent of the Academy Awards—for her performances in Every Man for Himself (1980), Strange Affair (1981), La Balance (1982), and The Young Lieutenant (2005).
Baye's career expanded internationally in the 21st century. She notably appeared in Steven Spielberg's 2002 film Catch Me If You Can as Paula Abagnale and in the 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era, where she portrayed Madame Montmirail.
Following the news of her passing, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the late actress on social media. "We loved Nathalie Baye so much," he wrote. "With her voice, her smile and her grace, she has been a constant presence in French cinema over the past few decades, from François Truffaut to Tonie Marshall. [She was] an actress with whom we have loved, dreamed and grown up."