Paris, France — A week after her sudden passing, friends, family, and colleagues from across the French entertainment industry gathered in Montmartre on Friday, April 24, 2026, to say a final goodbye to beloved actress Nadia Farès.
The funeral service was held at Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre, beginning around 3:30 p.m., exactly one week after Farès was declared deceased following a tragic incident in which she was found unresponsive in a Parisian swimming pool on April 17. She had been placed in an artificial coma in the days that followed but ultimately succumbed to what was described as a cardiac arrest at the age of 57.
The news of her death was first shared by her two daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman, in a statement released to AFP, in which they wrote: “France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother that we have lost.”
Among the mourners were several prominent figures from film and television. Director Claude Lelouch, actor Guillaume Canet, and Laeticia Hallyday — the widow of Johnny Hallyday — were all present at the service. Hallyday, who had traveled from the United States to attend, was visibly moved upon arrival and spoke warmly of her late friend.
“My stunning Cylia, your words are so powerful… so full of love. Your mother was so proud of you and Shana… beyond words. You are both her light, her strength, her legacy. She will always be with you,” Hallyday said, according to reports from Elle.fr, addressing Farès’ eldest daughter.
Other attendees included Samuel Le Bihan and Jean Dujardin, who had previously paid tribute to Farès on Instagram, writing: “It’s incomprehensible. Your talent, your smile, your kindness, your beauty… Goodbye my friend,” alongside a portrait of the actress.
The family had requested that attendees bring white flowers to the ceremony as a tribute. Farès’ daughters arrived together with their father, Steve Chasman, whom she had met in 2001. The couple became engaged just three weeks later and remained together for nearly two decades before separating in 2020.
Known for her roles in films such as The Crimson Rivers, Farès had long been a respected figure in French cinema. Her passing prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and peers alike, with many taking to social media to share memories and condolences.
As the service concluded under the spring sky of Montmartre, those in attendance left not only with sorrow but with a shared sense of having honored a woman whose warmth, talent, and kindness had touched countless lives — both on screen and off.
