Mel Gibson devastated as ‘secret love’ dies in shocking swimming pool accident: Insider reveals unbearably tragic details
Mel Gibson was left ‘gutted’ by the shock loss of his ‘secret love’ actress, who died on April 17, just days after a tragic swimming pool accident.
The 70-year-old Oscar-winning actor, who confirmed his separation from partner Rosalind Ross in December 2025, was shaken by the loss of his leading lady, Nadia Fares, four years after they starred together in the 2022 thriller On The Line.
On April 11, Fares, 57, was found unconscious in the swimming pool of a luxury gym in Paris and was taken to the hospital where he was put into a medically induced coma.
Six days later, he suffered a heart attack and died at Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, the medical center where Princess Diana died.
Now an insider has told the Daily Mail exclusively about Gibson’s ‘tremendous bond’ with Fares, hinting that the pair’s relationship blossomed into Fares’ love for Gibson before his death.
The source said: ‘Mel has fallen in love with many women throughout his life and Nadia Fares is undoubtedly one of the women in his life; He has great love and respect for their work together and their unbreakable friendship.
Mel Gibson was ‘devastated inside’ by the shock loss of his ‘secret love’ actress, who died on April 17, just days after a tragic swimming pool accident filmed with Nadia Fares at the 2021 French Open
The Oscar-winning actor and father of nine, 70, was saddened to lose his co-star Fares, four years after starring together in the 2022 thriller On The Line (filmed with Fares in Paris in 2021).
‘He may have cared for her more than she cared for him, but they had a tremendous bond that made his passing an incredible loss.
‘It makes him very sad that he left at such a young age. Such an event never happened in his timeline. It is much more destructive than expected. “He cared so much about her.”
Gibson led the cast of On The Line as the radio shock jock, while Fares took on a supporting role as producer.
The duo bonded quite closely on set, with playful photos showing the actors embracing while filming in Paris in 2021.
Fares also recently visited the director on the Rome set of The Resurrection of the Christ, the two-part sequel to his 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ.
The Daily Mail has contacted Gibson’s representatives for comment and has yet to receive a response.
The Braveheart star previously shared warm feelings about Fares, calling him a “force of nature.”
He said: ‘She is a talented actress with a rare sensitivity and grace that lights up every scene. It was a privilege to work with him on On the Line, so professionally and even with real kindness.’
Gibson led the cast of On The Line as the radio shock jock, while Fares took on a supporting role as the featured producer on the film.
On April 11, Fares was found unconscious in the swimming pool of a luxury gym in Paris and was taken to hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma; 2023 in the picture
Now an insider has opened up Gibson’s “tremendous bond” with Fares exclusively to the Daily Mail, hinting that the couple’s relationship blossomed into Fares’ love for Gibson before his death – Fares split in 2021, pictured with Nathalie Pechalat and Jean Dujardin
Gibson and Fares were seen happily posing together in a recent photo taken in Rome, where Gibson was filming The Resurrection of the Christ, the sequel to The Passion of the Christ.
Fares was at a luxury sports club near Montmartre on Saturday, April 11, when the horrific swimming pool incident came to light.
She reportedly walked around before losing consciousness, and the prosecution stated that she was in a yoga position at the bottom of the pool.
While waiting for emergency services to arrive, another swimmer tried to resuscitate the French-Moroccan actress with CPR.
Fares had surgery to treat a brain aneurysm in 2007 and once revealed he had three heart surgeries in four years.
Her death was announced by her daughters Cylia and Shana Chasman, whom she shared with her estranged husband, American producer Steve Chasman.
In the statement they made on the day of her death, they said, “It is with great sadness that we announce that Nadia Fares passed away this Friday.” ‘France ‘She lost a great artist, but for us, what we lost above all else is a mother.’
Fares and her ex-husband married in 2002 and lived together in Los Angeles before separating in 2022, then returning to France.
Gibson confirmed his split from his partner of nine years, Rosalind Ross, 35, in December 2025; the couple share nine-year-old son Lars (image 2019)
Before his romance with Ross, he was married to Robyn Moore for 31 years from 1980 to 2011, and the couple had seven children together – image 1990
After splitting from Moore in 2009, Gibson began dating Russian songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva, and they welcomed their daughter Lucia in 2009 – photo 2010
‘I really needed to start my own family, devote all my time to it,’ she once said, ‘following my husband to Los Angeles.’
Gibson and her longtime love Ross quietly announced their separation a year ago in December 2025. They share nine-year-old son Lars.
Before his romance with Ross, he was married to Robyn Moore for 31 years from 1980 to 2011, and the couple had seven children together.
After splitting from Moore in 2009, Gibson began dating Russian songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva, and they welcomed their daughter Lucia in 2009.
Gibson and Grigorieva split the following year after the actor’s ex-girlfriend admitted to a battery charge.
Lucia was caught in the middle of a bitter custody battle that became so intense at one point that their parents had once filed a restraining order against each other.
Gibson began dating equestrian and screenwriter Ross in 2014.
Fares rose to fame with the 2000 crime thriller The Crimson Rivers, starring Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno and directed by La Haine filmmaker Mathieu Kassovitz.
His films include the 2017 comedy Everyone’s Life, directed by A Man and a Woman director Claude Lelouch, directed by Jean Dujarin of The Artist fame, and the 2002 thriller The Nest, starring The Piano Teacher actor Benoit Magimel.
Netflix viewers can spot her as ruthless power player Vanessa d’Abrantes in Magimel’s political drama Marseille, in which she stars opposite Gerard Depardieu.
