A BBC star has died aged 43 after being diagnosed with a rare cancer.
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne sadly passed away on Sunday in a hospital just outside Paris, France, her family and agent confirmed.
The Missing actress revealed two years ago she had been diagnosed with a rare cancer.
Emilie said in October 2023 that she had was suffering with adrenocortical carcinoma.
Last year, Emilie revealed that she was in remission and had plans to return to acting.
However, her condition worsened and she suffered a relapse at the end of 2024.
Emilie told French television show TF1 she was focusing on her health, and publicly acknowledged her deteriorating condition.
“I know I will not live as long as planned,” she said.
Emilie launched her career in the film Rosetta, by the Dardenne brothers, in 1999.
She won best actress at the Cannes film festival for her performance in the film, which also won the Palme d’Or.
Emilie scooped a string of other awards for appearances in mainly French-language films, including 2012 drama Our Children, and 2021 film The Things We Say, The Things We Do.
One of Emilie’s most famous roles was her portrayal of Laurence Relaud in eight episodes of the first series of 2014 BBC drama The Missing, alongside James Nesbitt and Tchéky Karyo.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Paul Danan cause of death revealed after ex-Hollyoaks star found dead at home with cocktail of drugs in system” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369880436112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Emilie also appeared Brotherhood Of The Wolf, The Crossing, The Very Merry Widows, The Light, and Close.
The star returned to the Cannes film festival in 2024 to mark the 25th anniversary of her triumph there with the Dardenne brothers.
Emilie also promoted the English-language disaster movie, Survive.
But after a turn for the worse, it was sadly the last film she appeared in before illness forced her to stop working.
The action thriller was released in 2024, and Emilie revealed she “didn’t know she was sick” during filming in late 2022.
She told The Action Elite: “So I’m fighting cancer, which is something really strange when you look at Survive and me fighting against all the crabs.
“But I didn’t know I was sick by the time I was shooting the movie, and I got sick almost like six or eight months later. I’m still fighting.”
Emilie is survived by husband Michel Ferracci and her 22-year-old daughter Milla Savarese.
French actor Michael Youn paid tribute to the star: “Emilie, I thought you had won this fight against this filth.
“I am devastated to learn that you did not.
“For the duration of one film, The Crossing, you dazzled me with your talent and even more so with your kindness and humanity.
“I will forever remember the light in your eyes, the strength of your laughter, and the purity of your feelings.
“My thoughts are with Michel and Milla. Rest in peace.”
