French actress Nadia Farès, best known for her dual role in the 2000 thriller “The Crimson Rivers,” has died at age 57 following a swimming pool accident in Paris. The beloved star passed away on Friday after spending nearly a week in a medically induced coma following cardiac arrest at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.
On April 11, the actress was discovered unconscious in a pool at a private sports club on Rue Blanche in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Other swimmers pulled her from the water and performed CPR until emergency services arrived and rushed her to the hospital, where she remained in critical condition until her death on April 17.
Daughters Cylia and Shana Chasman released a statement to Agence France-Presse confirming their mother’s death. “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death this Friday of Nadia Farès. France has lost a great artist, but for us, it is above all a mother that we have just lost,” they wrote.
In a heartbreaking Instagram tribute, Cylia called her mother’s death “a heartbreak I will never get over,” writing that she prays each day that it is all a nightmare. She thanked her mother for fighting, for giving her life, and for every memory they shared together.
“I am so happy that we got even closer than we were before in your last few months. You understood me better than anyone, and I don’t know how I will recover,” she wrote, adding that her mother was not only an amazing parent but her best friend.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, though police have found no evidence of wrongdoing.
The actress had been candid about her ongoing health struggles in recent years, undergoing brain surgery for an aneurysm in 2007 and three heart operations within a four-year period. Despite these medical challenges, she remained dedicated to her craft and continued working.
Farès was preparing for an exciting new chapter, with plans to make her directorial debut this September on an action-comedy she had written and was producing for Studios TF1. She had spoken enthusiastically about the venture in a January profile with Gala magazine.
Born December 20, 1968, in Marrakesh, Morocco, she grew up in Nice, France, before moving to Paris to pursue acting. Her career launched on television in 1990 with an appearance in the French crime drama series “Navarro,” and she made her film debut in 1992 with “My Wife’s Girlfriends.”
Throughout the 1990s, Farès established herself as a rising talent, collaborating with renowned French directors including Alexandre Arcady, Claude Lelouch, and Bernie Bonvoisin. Her career-defining moment arrived in 2000 when Mathieu Kassovitz cast her in “The Crimson Rivers” alongside Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel, where she played the dual role of Fanny Ferreira and Judith Hérault.
The film’s international success opened Hollywood opportunities for Farès. She appeared in the 2007 action thriller “War” opposite Jason Statham and Jet Li, and starred in the Australian horror film “Storm Warning” the same year.
Television remained an important part of her career. From 2016 to 2018, she portrayed Vanessa d’Abrantes in 14 episodes of the Netflix series “Marseille,” earning recognition for her work on the popular show.
In 2002, she married American film producer Steve Chasman and later moved to Los Angeles. The couple had two daughters together before separating in 2022, after which Farès returned to France. She had taken a break from acting in 2009 to focus on family life.
Her final screen role was in the 2025 film “Toujours Possible.” At the time of her death, estimates placed Farès’s net worth between $5 million and $10 million, accumulated through her extensive work in acting, endorsements, and producing.
Over three decades, Farès built a diverse filmography spanning French cinema and Hollywood productions. Her ability to transition seamlessly between psychological thrillers, action films, and dramatic roles established her as one of France’s most talented actresses of her generation.
Social media has been flooded with tributes from fans and colleagues remembering her remarkable contributions to cinema. Many have noted that her legacy extends beyond her memorable performances, recalling her as a radiant woman who brought intensity and elegance to every project.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through France and beyond, with the film industry mourning an artist whose body of work remains a testament to her talent and dedication. From her breakthrough role to her final film and unrealized directorial debut, she leaves behind a significant artistic legacy that will continue to inspire audiences and filmmakers for years to come.
