French actress Sara Mortensen announced the death of her mother, actress, teacher, and theatre director Elisabeth Mortensen, who passed away on August 1, 2026, at the age of 78, according to an Instagram announcement shared by the performer. Elisabeth Mortensen appeared alongside her daughter in the first four seasons of the France Télévisions crime series Astrid et Raphaëlle.
Elisabeth Mortensen’s Life, Career, and Final Screen Appearances
Elisabeth Mortensen built a multifaceted career as a stage actress, director, and acting instructor, alongside making occasional film appearances. According to cinema records, she appeared in Serge Bergon’s 1983 feature film Joy and Alain Jessua’s 1982 film Paradis pour tous. In later years, she shared the screen with her daughter, Sara Mortensen, portraying the mother of the titular autistic archivist and criminologist Astrid Nielsen in the television series Astrid et Raphaëlle.
In November 2025, Sara Mortensen discussed her mother’s declining health in an interview with Télé 7 Jours, revealing that Elisabeth suffered from a neurodegenerative disease that affected her speech and led to her retirement from acting. Speaking further to Diverto in October 2025, Sara Mortensen explained that she requested the writing of a final sequence for her mother to properly close her career within the show, describing it as both the most difficult and the most beautiful scene she had ever filmed.
Sara Mortensen Pays Tribute to Her Mother on Instagram
On August 1, 2026, Sara Mortensen published a photograph on Instagram showing her embracing her mother, accompanied by the caption, “Mon cœur ne battra plus au même rythme” (“My heart will no longer beat at the same rhythm”), punctuated by a broken heart emoji. She added a phrase in Norwegian, “Mamma takk for alt” (“Mom, thank you for everything”). On her Instagram Stories, the actress shared further details, listing her mother’s lifespan as June 12, 1948, to August 1, 2026.
Following the public announcement, several figures from the entertainment industry, including actresses Charlotte Gaccio, Marie Fugain, and Nadège Beausson-Diagne, left messages of support in the comments of Sara Mortensen’s publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Elisabeth Mortensen?
Elisabeth Mortensen was a French theatre actress, director, and teacher who also appeared in films during the 1980s and acted alongside her daughter in the television series Astrid et Raphaëlle.
What caused Elisabeth Mortensen’s departure from acting?
selon Télé 7 Jours, Elisabeth Mortensen retired from acting due to a neurodegenerative disease that impaired her ability to articulate speech.
What is Astrid et Raphaëlle?
Astrid et Raphaëlle is a French television crime drama starring Sara Mortensen as Astrid Nielsen and Lola Dewaere as Commander Raphaëlle Coste.