Nadia Farès, the celebrated French actress best known for her role in “The Crimson Rivers,” has died at 57 following a tragic swimming pool incident in Paris. She was found unconscious at a private sports club on Rue Blanche in the city’s 9th arrondissement on April 11, and passed away on April 17 at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital after nearly a week in a medically induced coma.
Farès was swimming with fins and a kickboard when she lost consciousness after diving in. She was discovered in a “yoga position” at the bottom of the pool and remained submerged for 3 to 4 minutes before fellow swimmers pulled her out and performed CPR. Emergency responders then rushed her to the hospital, where she ultimately died from cardiac arrest, her family confirmed.
Her daughters, Cylia and Shana Chasman, shared the heartbreaking news with Agence France-Presse. “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.
The actress had faced significant health struggles throughout her life. She underwent brain surgery in 2007 to treat an aneurysm and endured three heart surgeries over a four-year span. Despite these medical challenges, she remained dedicated to her acting career and continued pursuing new creative ventures.
On April 18, daughter Cylia posted an emotional Instagram tribute, calling her mother’s death “a heartbreak I will never get over.” She wrote that she prays each day that it is all a nightmare and 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,” Cylia wrote, adding that her mother was not only an amazing parent but her best friend.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, though authorities have indicated no evidence of wrongdoing has been found. The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief across social media, with fans and colleagues paying tribute to the actress and her contributions to cinema.
Farès was born December 20, 1968, in Marrakesh, Morocco, and grew up in Nice, France. She moved to Paris to chase her acting ambitions and landed her first film role in 1992’s “My Wife’s Girlfriends.” During the 1990s, she collaborated with distinguished French directors including Alexandre Arcady, Claude Lelouch, and Bernie Bonvoisin, steadily building her reputation.
Her career-defining moment arrived in 2000 with Mathieu Kassovitz’s psychological thriller “The Crimson Rivers”, where she played the dual role of Fanny Ferreira and Judith Hérault alongside Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. The film’s critical and commercial success launched her to international stardom and led to opportunities in Hollywood.
She appeared in the 2007 action thriller “War” with Jason Statham and Jet Li, as well as the Australian horror film “Storm Warning” that same year. Her television work included a memorable turn as Vanessa d’Abrantes in 14 episodes of the Netflix series “Marseille” from 2016 to 2018. She first appeared on television in 1990 in the French crime drama series “Navarro.”
In 2002, Farès married American film producer Steve Chasman and eventually moved to Los Angeles. She stepped away from acting in 2009 to devote time to raising their two daughters. The couple separated in 2022, prompting her return to France.
Despite her health issues, Farès remained professionally active. Her most recent film, “Toujours Possible,” was released in 2025. She was also preparing to make her directorial debut this September on an action-comedy she had written, with production by Studios TF1. She had expressed her excitement about the project in a January profile with Gala magazine.
Over her three-decade career, Farès demonstrated remarkable versatility across genres, moving effortlessly between psychological thrillers, action films, and dramatic roles. Her ability to bring depth and sophistication to every project earned her recognition as one of France’s most talented actresses of her generation.
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.
As the French film industry mourns the loss of one of its celebrated artists, Farès’s body of work remains a testament to her talent and dedication. From her breakthrough in “The Crimson Rivers” 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.