In an emotionally charged episode of the French television program Un dimanche à la campagne, aired on March 23, 2025, model and television personality Estelle Lefébure shared intimate revelations about her family and her childhood. Her discussion provides a profound glimpse into her life, marked by unexpected familial discoveries following the death of her father.
Lefébure, who was known for her strong bond with her parents, recalled a happy childhood where she felt like "everything" to them. However, her life took a sorrowful turn when her father, Gilles, died of leukemia when she was just 23 years old, a day after her wedding to musician David Hallyday on September 15, 1989. Hallyday reflected on this tragic event in his November 2024 autobiography, stating, "Only Gilles, Estelle's father, was absent, hospitalized for acute leukemia. Unfortunately, he died the next day - this cast a shadow over the wedding."
During the interview, Lefébure recounted how her father's death led to unexpected and shocking discoveries about her family history. It was only after his passing that she learned she had two half-sisters from his previous marriage. This revelation came as a shock to Lefébure, who stated, "I found out very late that my father had two other daughters before me. To put it all on the table, I saw them for the first time when my father died, at the notary’s office. There were two people, and I was thinking, 'Who are they?' They were my father's daughters. Before he passed away, he had another daughter. Thus, I am the third child, but my father had four daughters in total."
Accompanying these revelations were significant memories of her upbringing. Lefébure shared how her parents balanced their work and family life. Her mother worked as a hairdresser while her father directed a large bolt factory, leading to limited family time—primarily on Sundays when they could all be together. Reflecting on her childhood, she said, "My mother worked on Saturdays, so only on Sundays were we just the three of us."
The emotional depth of the episode was palpable when Lefébure viewed a childhood photo during the segment and struggled to hold back tears. Asked what she would tell her younger self, she expressed her hopes and dreams for that child: "I would say to her... to dare... go ahead... there are wonderful things waiting for you, even if some things have been less good."
Responding to questions about her relationship with her father, Lefébure revealed complexities that shadowed their connection. She described a moment of acceptance where she felt he struggled to embrace her early on in her life. "He didn’t accept me right away. Therefore, he raised me like a boy. Luckily, because he gave me many things he wouldn’t have offered had he raised me differently."
This poignant conversation highlighted the layered experiences of Lefébure's life and her ongoing growth as both a person and a mother. Her daughters, Ilona and Emma, are now flourishing adults, and her daughter Ilona recently made Lefébure a grandmother with the birth of a first grandchild, Harrison, in 2022. Lefébure cherishes these moments with her grandson, sharing her joys on social media.
These reflections invite viewers to consider how family dynamics shape our identities, often revealing stories interwoven with both joy and grief. Estelle Lefébure's candid storytelling in Un dimanche à la campagne provides not only a compelling view of her past but a reminder of the enduring bonds of family, the complexity of relationships, and the discoveries that can arise from loss. As she looks back at her life, it becomes clear that while her childhood had its challenges, it also paved the way for the resilient woman she has become today.
