Belgian Actress Émilie Dequenne Passes Away at 43 After Battle with Cancer
Award-winning Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne has passed away at the age of 43 following a battle with cancer.
Dequenne first rose to prominence in 1999 when she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her powerful performance in Rosetta at just 18 years old. Her talent and versatility continued to earn critical acclaim, winning another Cannes award for À Perdre la Raison (Our Children) in 2012. In 2021, she received one of France’s most prestigious film honors, the César Award, for her role in Les Choses Qu’on Dit, les Choses Qu’on Fait (The Things We Say, the Things We Do).
Primarily known for her work in French-language cinema, Dequenne also made a mark in international television, portraying police officer Laurence Relaud in the 2014 BBC drama The Missing.
Her passing has left the film industry and her fans mourning the loss of a remarkable talent.
Émilie Dequenne’s Iconic Role in Rosetta Remembered Following Her Passing
Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, who tragically passed away at 43 after a battle with cancer, first captured global attention with her debut role in Rosetta—a powerful film about a teenager’s fight to escape a life of hardship.
At the time of her casting, Dequenne was unemployed after losing her job at a food factory. However, her raw talent shone through, earning her the lead role in the 1999 film, which would go on to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Luc Dardenne, who directed Rosetta alongside his brother Jean-Pierre, paid tribute to Dequenne in a statement to RTBF:
“The first day she filmed in front of a real camera, she managed to bring the whole team together. It got better and better as the shoot progressed… She was magnificent, and the film owes a lot to her.”
Dequenne’s performance in Rosetta was widely praised for its emotional depth and authenticity, setting the stage for a celebrated career in French-language cinema.
Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy in the film industry remains unforgettable.
Tributes Pour in for Émilie Dequenne Following Her Passing at 43
Acclaimed Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, known for her powerful performances in French-language cinema, has passed away at the age of 43 after a battle with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer of the adrenal gland.
Among her many roles, Dequenne starred as police officer Laurence Relaud in The Missing, the gripping 2014 BBC drama alongside James Nesbitt, who played a father desperately searching for his missing son.
Her impressive filmography also included La Fille du RER (The Girl on the Train, 2009), Pas Son Genre (Not My Type, 2014), and Close (2022), a Cannes-nominated film.
French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati paid tribute to Dequenne, stating:
“Francophone cinema has lost, too soon, a talented actress who still had so much to offer.”
Dequenne had publicly shared her cancer diagnosis in October 2023. In one of her final Instagram posts on World Cancer Day in February, she wrote:
“What a tough fight! And we don’t choose…”
Her passing leaves a void in the world of cinema, but her legacy will continue to inspire audiences for years to come.