The actress Nadia Fares, known in France and abroad for the film ‘The Purple Rivers’ (2000), has died at the age of 57. Hospitalized for a week in a coma after being found unconscious in a Parisian swimming pool, she passed away on Friday evening at the Pitiè-Salpetrière hospital.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Nadia Farès, which occurred this Friday. France has lost a great artist, but for us she is above all a mother who we have just lost”, wrote her daughters Cylia and Shana Chasman in a message, asking for “respect and discretion” in this moment of mourning.
According to what her family reported, the actress was the victim of an illness due to a heart attack. An investigation has been opened, but at present no elements of a crime have emerged. Farès was rescued last Sunday after being recovered unconscious from a swimming pool at a private club in rue Blanche, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.
The news of his disappearance sparked numerous reactions in the world of cinema. Jean Dujardin greeted “a friend” remembering her talent and goodness, while Josiane Balasko spoke of “sadness” and “injustice”. Elsa Zylberstein evoked the smile, energy and generosity of the actress, and Laeticia Hallyday left a moving message on social media.
Born in 1968 in Marrakech, Nadia Farès grew up in Nice before moving to Paris to pursue an artistic career. After his debut in the nineties with directors such as Alexandre Arcady, Claude Lelouch and Bernie Bonvoisin, he reached the general public with «The Purple Rivers» by Mathieu Kassovitz, alongside Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. Success had opened the doors of international cinema to her, with roles in Anglophone action productions, alternating with French films. She subsequently put her career on hold to move to the United States with producer Steve Chasman, with whom she had two daughters, returning to France after their separation four years ago.
In recent years she had returned to the scene, including the Netflix series “Marseille” alongside Gèrard Depardieu and Benoit Magimel, as well as various television productions and for streaming platforms. Just recently she announced a new project: her first feature film as writer and director, an action comedy in preparation with Studios TF1, which was scheduled to start shooting in September. In an interview published in January, the actress also spoke about the health difficulties she faced in the past, including a brain aneurysm operated on in 2007 and three heart surgeries in four years, without however giving up an active lifestyle. “I consider myself extremely privileged,” she said, “I have no right to complain.”