The French seventh art is in mourning. On Friday, April 24, 2026, the funeral of Nathalie Baye was held at the Saint-Sulpice church, located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, exactly one week after the tragic death of the 77-year-old actress, due to Lewy body disease. The public ceremony was attended by about 400 guests, according to Europe 1, with various public figures coming to pay their respects to Laura Smet’s mother.
Claire Chazal, Michel Drucker, Benjamin Biolay, Eddy Mitchell, David Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Josiane Balasko, Marilou Berry, Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, Brigitte Macron, and Jack Lang were seen arriving at the church, as reported by BFMTV. Emotions ran high as onlookers and photographers witnessed the white casket of the actress who starred alongside Leonardo Di Caprio in the movie “Catch Me If You Can”, followed by the procession of mourners shedding tears, led by David Hallyday’s half-sister.
Laura Smet greets the crowd at Nathalie Baye’s funeral. The 42-year-old actress bid farewell to her mother nine years after facing a similar ordeal at her father Johnny Hallyday’s funeral. Laura Smet took the time to acknowledge the crowd who came in numbers to pay tribute to a legendary actress. The footage of Smet interacting with the crowd shows Nathalie Baye’s immense popularity among the French public and her daughter’s humility in sharing this moment with the fans, recalling a similar gesture back in December 2017.
Laura Smet delivers an emotional speech at Nathalie Baye’s funeral. A day filled with emotions for Laura Smet as she shared touching words about her mother moments before engaging with the crowd. She expressed her admiration for her mother’s genuine, caring, and strong nature. Laura highlighted her mother’s selflessness and love for life, people, nature, and animals. She also emphasized the special bond she shared with her mother, describing her as an incredible friend, eternal lover, and a fabulous mother. The heartfelt speech sheds light on the deep sorrow Laura Smet must be feeling on this particular day.
