The acclaimed French actress Nadia Fares has died at the age of 57 after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool on Saturday, April 11, per parade.com.
Fares, who rose to international prominence in the early 2000s, passed away on Friday after being placed in a medically induced coma following the incident at a local gym.
Fares was reportedly swimming laps when she lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital. Her daughters confirmed her passing in a statement to Agence France-Presse, describing her as a “great artist” and a devoted mother who fought hard to recover during her final days.
The actress achieved breakout success in Mathieu Kassovitz’s 2000 thriller The Crimson River, based on the novel by Jean-Christophe Grangé. She subsequently transitioned to Hollywood, appearing alongside Jet Li and Jason Statham in the 2007 action film Storm Warning.
Beyond her acting career, Fares was expanding into filmmaking. At the time of her death, she was preparing to direct and star in an original action-comedy, with production scheduled to begin later this year.
Her daughter, Cylia Chasman, paid tribute to her mother on social media, expressing heartbreak and gratitude for the memories shared.
Fares leaves behind a significant legacy in both French and international cinema.
She was part of a generation of French actors who successfully crossed over into English-language cinema during the 2000s, helping to bridge the gap between European arthouse thrillers and big-budget Hollywood action films.
•Featured image: Nadia Fares/Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
