he died at her home in Paris on Friday evening after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, her family confirmed to Agence France-Presse.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to her legacy, describing her as “an actress with whom we loved, dreamed and grew up,” and highlighting her lasting influence on generations of moviegoers.
Born in Normandy in 1948 into an artistic family, Baye initially trained as a dancer before moving into acting. Her rise began in the early 1970s, notably with her role in Day for Night, directed by François Truffaut.
Across a career spanning more than 50 years, she appeared in around 80 films and earned a reputation as one of France’s most accomplished performers. She won four César Awards, starting in 1981 for Sauve qui peut (la vie), directed by Jean-Luc Godard. She later received further awards for Une étrange affaire and La Balance.
Her international acclaim expanded with An Affair of Love, which earned her Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. She also appeared in global productions such as Catch Me If You Can, portraying the mother of Leonardo DiCaprio.