A week after her untimely passing, the community remains deeply affected. On Friday, April 24, 2026, friends and film industry colleagues gathered in Paris to pay their final respects to Nadia Farès. Here’s a look back at a funeral filled with sorrow, dignity, and solemnity.
The funeral of Nadia Farès took place this Friday afternoon at the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre amidst a heavy atmosphere of emotion. The actress, who tragically passed away at the age of 57 on April 17, 2026, following an accident at a Parisian swimming pool, leaves behind a profound sense of shock and bewilderment.
Nadia Farès attending the red carpet ceremony for the film ‘Firebrand (Le Jeu De La Reine)’ during the 76th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals, on May 21, 2023, in Cannes, France. Source: Getty Images
A week after the tragedy, the grief remains palpable. Outside the church, a silent crowd formed, composed of fans, family, and notable figures, all coming to pay their last tribute to an artist whose sudden departure has shaken the cinema world.
Cylia and Shana at the heart of remembrance
Seated in the front row, the actress’s two daughters, Cylia and Shana, were the focus of attention. Clearly overwhelmed, they accompanied their mother on her final journey.
Cylia Chasman, daughter of Nadia Fares, arriving to attend her mother’s funeral at the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a Paris swimming pool and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Their dignified presence, though heartbreaking, embodied the personal nature of this loss. Photographs captured their faces marked by grief yet also reflecting a silent strength amidst the ordeal.
Strong presence from the film world
The French film community came out in force to pay tribute. Notable attendees included Laeticia Hallyday, Claude Lelouch, Elie Chouraqui, and François Vincentelli.
Laeticia Hallyday greets Shana Chasman, daughter of Nadia Fares, before the funeral ceremony at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
French director Claude Lelouch arriving at the funeral of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
French director Elie Chouraqui arriving at the funeral of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Others in attendance included François Berléand, Samuel Le Bihan, and Gad Elmaleh, all there to honor an actress cherished for her talent and humanity.
Belgian actor François Vincentelli and French actor François Berléand arriving at the funeral of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Actor Samuel Le Bihan arrives for the funeral ceremony of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Moroccan-Canadian comedian Gad Elmaleh arriving at the funeral of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Their subdued yet significant presence reflects the impact Nadia Farès left within the artistic landscape of France and beyond.
A modest ceremony, true to the actress’s spirit
Inside the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre, the ceremony unfolded with great simplicity. There were no excesses or staged performances—only gazes, silences, and shared memories.
Carrying the casket of actress Nadia Fares into the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre during her funeral in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
French actress Josiane Balasko (right) speaks with her husband, American actor George Aguilar, as they leave the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre in Paris on April 24, 2026, after the funeral ceremony for actress Nadia Fares. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool in Paris and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
The white flowers surrounding the casket reflected the family’s wishes, symbolizing purity and remembrance. Every moment felt suspended, frozen in a collective emotion that was difficult to contain.
A tragic accident that sent shockwaves
Nadia Farès’s death stemmed from an accident that occurred on April 11, 2026. While swimming at a Paris sports center, she was found unresponsive at the bottom of the pool.
A guest arrives at the funeral ceremony of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
Despite swift emergency intervention and several days of induced coma at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, she could not survive her injuries. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the accident, with no criminal motives being considered at this time.
A career marked by intensity and discretion
Born in 1968 in Marrakech and raised in Nice, Nadia Farès emerged in the 1990s as an actress with a unique charisma.
She gained prominence in cinema through iconic films such as Mathieu Kassovitz’s “Les Rivières pourpres” and “Nid de guêpes,” building a solid career that spanned both French and international productions.
Known for her intense and physical acting style, she established a unique presence on screen that left an enduring mark on contemporary French cinema.
Images to remember
The photos from April 24, 2026, paint a picture of a collective farewell, blending personal grief with a public tribute.
In the expressions of family members, the gestures of friends, and the silent presence of celebrities come to pay their respects, one truth emerges: Nadia Farès leaves behind much more than a film legacy. She leaves behind a profound human imprint engraved in the memories of those who knew and loved her.
Guests attending the funeral ceremony of actress Nadia Fares at the Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, on April 24, 2026. Nadia Fares passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 57, after being found unconscious in a swimming pool and spending several days in a coma. Source: Getty Images
On that day, in Montmartre, Paris bid farewell to an actress, but also to a woman whose light continues to shine through those who knew and cherished her.
Earlier that same morning, the capital was also marked by another moment of mourning with the funeral of Nathalie Baye, a prominent figure in French cinema who passed away just days before, adding a poignant resonance to this already emotional day for the cultural world.
