Nathalie Baye

Nathalie Baye

Born July 06, 1948 (Age: 77) Mainneville, Eure, France

Biography

Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (July 6, 1948 – April 17, 2026) was a French film, television, and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for Every Man for Himself (1980), Strange Affair (1981), La Balance (1982), and The Young Lieutenant (2005). Her other films include Day for Night (1973), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Tell No One (2006), and The Assistant (2015). In 2009, she was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Baye was born in Mainneville, Eure, Normandy to Claude Baye and Denise Coustet, two painters. At 14, she joined a school of dance in Monaco. Three years later she went to the United States. On returning to France, she continued with dance but also registered for the Simon Course and was admitted to the Conservatoire, from where she graduated in 1972 with a second prize in comedy, dramatic comedy, and foreign theatre. Her second cinema appearance was in Two People (1973), directed by Robert Wise. She became better known as the script girl in Day for Night (La Nuit américaine, 1973) by François Truffaut. Throughout the 1970s, she played the good girlfriend or nice provincial girl in film and television. She won her first César, as best supporting artist, for Every Man for Himself (Sauve qui peut (la vie), 1980) directed by Jean-Luc Godard. There then followed The Return of Martin Guerre (Le Retour de Martin Guerre, 1982) and La Balance (also 1982). Baye won two more César Awards, Best Supporting Actress, for Strange Affair (Une étrange affaire, 1981), and Best Actress for La Balance, 1982). Her four-year relationship with Johnny Hallyday made them a celebrity couple and their daughter is Laura Smet, now an actress. After changing her image by playing a streetwalker in La Balance, she widened her scope with more obscure characters in J'ai épousé une ombre (1983) and En toute innocence (1988). In 1986, she returned to the theatre with an interpretation of Adriana Monti. In 1999, she was voted Best Supporting Actress at Venice Film Festival for Une liaison pornographique and starred in Vénus Beauté (Institut) (2000) by Tonie Marshall which won multiple César Awards including Best Film. She has worked with Claude Chabrol and Steven Spielberg. Source: Article "Nathalie Baye" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (July 6, 1948 – April 17, 2026) was a French film, television, and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for Every Man for Himself (1980), Strange Affair (1981), La Balance (1982), and The Young Lieutenant (2005). Her other films include Day for Night (1973), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Tell No One (2006), and The Assistant (2015). In 2009, she was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Baye was born in Mainneville, Eure, Normandy to Claude Baye and Denise Coustet, two painters. At 14, she joined a school of dance in Monaco. Three years later she went to the United States. On returning to France, she continued with dance but also registered for the Simon Course and was admitted to the Conservatoire, from where she graduated in 1972 with a second prize in comedy, dramatic comedy, and foreign theatre. Her second cinema appearance was in Two People (1973), directed by Robert Wise. She became better known as the script girl in Day for Night (La Nuit américaine, 1973) by François Truffaut. Throughout the 1970s, she played the good girlfriend or nice provincial girl in film and television. She won her first César, as best supporting artist, for Every Man for Himself (Sauve qui peut (la vie), 1980) directed by Jean-Luc Godard. There then followed The Return of Martin Guerre (Le Retour de Martin Guerre, 1982) and La Balance (also 1982). Baye won two more César Awards, Best Supporting Actress, for Strange Affair (Une étrange affaire, 1981), and Best Actress for La Balance, 1982). Her four-year relationship with Johnny Hallyday made them a celebrity couple and their daughter is Laura Smet, now an actress. After changing her image by playing a streetwalker in La Balance, she widened her scope with more obscure characters in J'ai épousé une ombre (1983) and En toute innocence (1988). In 1986, she returned to the theatre with an interpretation of Adriana Monti. In 1999, she was voted Best Supporting Actress at Venice Film Festival for Une liaison pornographique and starred in Vénus Beauté (Institut) (2000) by Tonie Marshall which won multiple César Awards including Best Film. She has worked with Claude Chabrol and Steven Spielberg. Source: Article "Nathalie Baye" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
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Filmography

Godard Cinema

Godard Cinema

2023 as Self Age: 74
Alibi.com 2

Alibi.com 2

2023 as Mme Martin Age: 74
Downton Abbey: A New Era

Downton Abbey: A New Era

2022 as Mme de Montmirail Age: 73
Soirée Pyjama

Soirée Pyjama

2019 as Self - Guest Age: 70
Thomas

Thomas

2018 as Anne Lancrey Age: 69
Alibi.com

Alibi.com

2017 as Marlène Martin Age: 68
It's Only the End of the World

It's Only the End of the World

2016 as Martine Age: 68
Moka

Moka

2016 as Marlène Age: 68
Lou!

Lou!

2014 as Jeanne (La grand-mère) Age: 66
Bon vent Claude Goretta

Bon vent Claude Goretta

2011 as Self Age: 63
Hitler in Hollywood

Hitler in Hollywood

2011 as Nathalie Baye Age: 62
No Image

Acteur

2007 as Camille Age: 58
François Truffaut, une autobiographie

François Truffaut, une autobiographie

2004 as Self Age: 56
Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

2002 as Paula Abagnale Age: 54
A Day in the Life of French Cinema

A Day in the Life of French Cinema

2002 as Self Age: 53
Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous

2001 as Patricia 'Patsy' Laroche Age: 53
To Mathieu

To Mathieu

2000 as Claire Age: 52
Beware of My Love

Beware of My Love

1998 as Muriel Age: 50
Paparazzi

Paparazzi

1998 as Nicole, de l'agence Magma Age: 49
Food of Love

Food of Love

1997 as Michele Age: 49
Enfants de salaud

Enfants de salaud

1996 as Sophie Age: 47
Les Enfoirés 1996 - La Soirée des Enfoirés

Les Enfoirés 1996 - La Soirée des Enfoirés

1996 as Age: 47
François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - The Wild Child

François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - The Wild Child

1996 as Self Age: 47
François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - Love & Death

François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - Love & Death

1996 as Self Age: 47
And the Band Played On

And the Band Played On

1993 as Dr. Françoise Barre Age: 45
Mensonge

Mensonge

1993 as Emma Age: 44
François Truffaut: Stolen Portraits

François Truffaut: Stolen Portraits

1993 as Self Age: 44
Les contes sauvages

Les contes sauvages

1993 as Narrator (voice) Age: 44
The Voice

The Voice

1992 as Lorraine Age: 44
From Time to Time

From Time to Time

1992 as Madame de Pompadour Age: 43
No Image

The Man Inside

1990 as Christine Age: 42
Every Other Weekend

Every Other Weekend

1990 as Camille Valmont Age: 42
C'est La Vie

C'est La Vie

1990 as Lena Age: 41
Massacre Play

Massacre Play

1989 as Bella Age: 40
No Harm Intended

No Harm Intended

1988 as Catherine Duchêne Age: 39
Engagements of the Heart

Engagements of the Heart

1987 as Alice Age: 39
Honeymoon

Honeymoon

1985 as Cécile Carline Age: 37
Beethoven's Nephew

Beethoven's Nephew

1985 as Leonore Age: 37
Detective

Detective

1985 as Françoise Chenal Age: 37
The Return of Martin Guerre

The Return of Martin Guerre

1982 as Bertrande de Rols Age: 33
Strange Affair

Strange Affair

1981 as Nina Coline Age: 33
The Red Shade

The Red Shade

1981 as Anna Age: 33
Beau Pere

Beau Pere

1981 as Charlotte Age: 33
Voyage à travers un film (Sauve qui peut (la vie))

Voyage à travers un film (Sauve qui peut (la vie))

1981 as Self Age: 32
Sauve la vie (qui peut)

Sauve la vie (qui peut)

1981 as Self (archive footage) Age: 32
La provinciale

La provinciale

1981 as Christine Delumet Age: 32
Every Man for Himself

Every Man for Himself

1980 as Denise Rimbaud Age: 32
A Week's Vacation

A Week's Vacation

1980 as Laurence Cuers Age: 31
Rat Race

Rat Race

1980 as Brigitte Ozendron Age: 31
Madame Sourdis

Madame Sourdis

1979 as Adèle Sourdis Age: 31
Mon premier amour

Mon premier amour

1978 as Fabienne Age: 30
The Green Room

The Green Room

1978 as Cecilia Mandel Age: 29
No Image

Esquisse d'une jeune femme sens dessus dessous

1975 as Fabienne Veyrier, the young woman Age: 27
The Slap

The Slap

1974 as Christine Abeillé Age: 26
The Mouth Agape

The Mouth Agape

1974 as Nathalie Age: 25
L'Inconnu

L'Inconnu

1973 as Age: 25
Day for Night

Day for Night

1973 as Joelle, the Script Girl Age: 24
Faustine and the Beautiful Summer

Faustine and the Beautiful Summer

1972 as Giselle Age: 23