DAKAR/PARIS, — Senegalese actress and model Halima (Khalima/Halimatou) Gadji, widely known for her portrayal of Marième Dial in the hit TV drama Mistress of a Married Man (Maîtresse d’un homme marié), has died in France after an illness, Senegalese media and the country’s culture authorities confirmed this week.
Gadji was 37, according to reports carried by Africanews, as tributes flooded social media from fans and public figures reacting to what many described as a sudden and painful loss for Senegal’s screen industry.
Among mourners interviewed, Mouhamed Cheril Semou said the news was “quite shocking,” describing Gadji as a symbol of Africa and women, and noting that she had recently spoken publicly about mental health in videos shared online.
Gadji’s breakout role as Marième Dial helped cement Mistress of a Married Man as one of Senegal’s most-watched modern series—praised for its sharp storytelling and also debated for its frank themes around marriage, gender expectations and sexuality. In a 2019 interview on the show’s cultural impact, Gadji said she hoped the series would challenge rigid gender roles and broaden how women are represented on screen.
Fans say her performances were marked by intensity and emotional range. Thiaba Diallo, who followed the series closely, said Gadji “gave it her all” and that her acting was a major reason audiences stayed invested in the show.
Senegal’s Ministry of Culture, Handicrafts and Tourism paid tribute, saying Gadji “revealed” herself to the wider public through iconic roles and portrayed her characters with “sensitivity and commitment,” helping make the country’s audiovisual space one of “reflection, dialogue and shared experience.”
Born in Dakar in 1989, Gadji began her career as a model while still in her teens before expanding into acting and entrepreneurship, building a strong following across West Africa and the diaspora.
While details of her illness and final days were not fully disclosed, the outpouring of grief underscores her influence—both as a performer and as a public voice on issues many young Africans increasingly want discussed openly
