Belgian actor Émilie Dequenne passes away at 43
Alona Yadav | Mar 17, 2025, 22:55 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Belgian actor Émilie Dequenne, known for her award-winning role in "Rosetta," has died at 43 after battling adrenocortical carcinoma. She gained prominence after winning Best Actress at Cannes in 1999 and continued to star in notable films like "The Girl on the Train" and "Our Children." Dequenne is survived by her husband and daughter.
Émilie Dequenne, the acclaimed Belgian actor who rose to prominence after winning a prestigious Cannes Film Festival award for her performance in "Rosetta," has died at the age of 43.
According to a report from Agence France-Presse, Dequenne's family and agent confirmed she passed away on Sunday in a hospital outside Paris following a battle with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare form of cancer she publicly disclosed in 2023. Representatives for Dequenne did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Dequenne was just 18 years old when she captured the Best Actress award at Cannes in 1999 for her breakout role in "Rosetta," directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. In this critically acclaimed film, which also won the coveted Palme d'Or, she portrayed a determined teenager striving to escape a difficult life in a caravan park with her alcoholic mother.
Born in Belœil, Belgium in 1981, Dequenne demonstrated performance talent from a young age and studied drama at the Académie de Musique de Baudour. Her career gained momentum in France after starring alongside Catherine Deneuve in "The Girl on the Train" (2009), a film based on the true story of a woman who falsely claimed to be the victim of an antisemitic attack. Television audiences recognized her as police officer Laurence Renauld in the French series "The Missing."
Her exceptional talent earned her another Cannes recognition in 2012 when she won the Un Certain Regard actress prize for her role in "Our Children," a psychological drama inspired by a real-life tragedy. Discussing this challenging role with The Guardian in 2013, Dequenne shared, "For my part I went home every weekend, and stayed with my family, which is a very safe place. Making a film like that is something that you have to survive."
Throughout her career, Dequenne received multiple César Award nominations, ultimately winning Best Supporting Actress in 2021 for her performance in the romantic comedy "Love Affair(s)." Her recent work included a role in Lukas Dhont's "Close," which brought her back to Cannes in 2022, and Frédéric Jardin's post-apocalyptic thriller "Survive," released earlier this year. In 2024, she returned to Cannes for the 25th anniversary celebration of "Rosetta."
Despite her international acclaim, Dequenne expressed little interest in Hollywood filmmaking. "I have been to Hollywood and had meetings, but really they don't do the kind of films I like to make. And everything is kind of boring, no?" she told The Guardian. "Honestly, it's not a fun place, or at least not my kind of fun."
Dequenne is survived by her husband, director and producer Michel Ferracci, and her daughter, Milla Savarese.
According to a report from Agence France-Presse, Dequenne's family and agent confirmed she passed away on Sunday in a hospital outside Paris following a battle with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare form of cancer she publicly disclosed in 2023. Representatives for Dequenne did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
Dequenne was just 18 years old when she captured the Best Actress award at Cannes in 1999 for her breakout role in "Rosetta," directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. In this critically acclaimed film, which also won the coveted Palme d'Or, she portrayed a determined teenager striving to escape a difficult life in a caravan park with her alcoholic mother.
Born in Belœil, Belgium in 1981, Dequenne demonstrated performance talent from a young age and studied drama at the Académie de Musique de Baudour. Her career gained momentum in France after starring alongside Catherine Deneuve in "The Girl on the Train" (2009), a film based on the true story of a woman who falsely claimed to be the victim of an antisemitic attack. Television audiences recognized her as police officer Laurence Renauld in the French series "The Missing."
Her exceptional talent earned her another Cannes recognition in 2012 when she won the Un Certain Regard actress prize for her role in "Our Children," a psychological drama inspired by a real-life tragedy. Discussing this challenging role with The Guardian in 2013, Dequenne shared, "For my part I went home every weekend, and stayed with my family, which is a very safe place. Making a film like that is something that you have to survive."
Throughout her career, Dequenne received multiple César Award nominations, ultimately winning Best Supporting Actress in 2021 for her performance in the romantic comedy "Love Affair(s)." Her recent work included a role in Lukas Dhont's "Close," which brought her back to Cannes in 2022, and Frédéric Jardin's post-apocalyptic thriller "Survive," released earlier this year. In 2024, she returned to Cannes for the 25th anniversary celebration of "Rosetta."
Despite her international acclaim, Dequenne expressed little interest in Hollywood filmmaking. "I have been to Hollywood and had meetings, but really they don't do the kind of films I like to make. And everything is kind of boring, no?" she told The Guardian. "Honestly, it's not a fun place, or at least not my kind of fun."
Dequenne is survived by her husband, director and producer Michel Ferracci, and her daughter, Milla Savarese.