Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne, best known for her lead role in Rosetta, has passed away at the age of 43.
Her longtime agent, Danielle Gain, confirmed to AFP that Dequenne died on the evening of Sunday, March 16, at a hospital near Paris, France, according to Deadline. Her passing comes nearly two years after she publicly disclosed her battle with a rare adrenal gland cancer in October 2023.
“You are an inspiring woman, a great soul, a great actress, I remember your smiling eyes and your light. I love you forever my Emily 🕊️
Milla, Michel, Danielle, Isabelle …. I’m thinking about you so much.”
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne was born on August 29, 1981, in Beloeil, Belgium. She gained international recognition in 1999 with her breakout role in the Dardenne brothers’ Rosetta, a gripping drama about a struggling young woman fighting for survival. Her raw and deeply moving performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, launching her into the global spotlight.
Following her success in Rosetta, Dequenne built a versatile career in European cinema, seamlessly transitioning between intense dramas, psychological thrillers, and period pieces. She starred in films such as The Girl on the Train (2009), where she portrayed a woman caught in a web of lies, and Our Children (2012), a harrowing drama that won her the Best Actress award in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. Other notable performances include The Pack (2010), Je ne suis pas un salaud (2015), and Rouge (2020).
Dequenne was widely admired for her ability to embody complex characters with emotional depth. Throughout her career, she worked with some of Europe’s most acclaimed filmmakers and remained a beloved figure in Belgian and French cinema.
In October 2023, Dequenne publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with a rare adrenal gland cancer. Despite her health struggles, she remained active in the industry, inspiring many with her resilience.
According to Variety, Dequenne is survived by her husband, Michel Ferracci, and her daughter, Milla, whom she had with her former partner, Alexandre Savarese.
