Award-winning Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne has died at the age of 43 after a battle with cancer. Renowned for her role in the 1999 film "Rosetta," which earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival when she was just 18, Dequenne's career was marked by critical acclaim and prestigious awards.
She won another Cannes award in 2012 for "À Perdre la Raison" (Our Children) and received the César Award in 2021 for her performance in "Les Choses Qu'on Dit, les Choses Qu'on Fait" (The Things We Say, the Things We Do). While she predominantly focused on French-language films, she also appeared in the 2014 BBC TV series "The Missing," where she played a police officer.
"Rosetta," directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1999. Dequenne’s powerful portrayal of a young woman struggling against the odds elevated her quickly to stardom; it was her first role after being unemployed following a stint in a food factory. Dardenne praised her ability to bring the cast together and acknowledged her significant contribution to the film's success.
Dequenne returned to the Cannes red carpet as recently as last year, showcasing her enduring connection to the film festival. Her notable filmography also includes "La fille du RER" (The Girl on the Train) and "Pas Son Genre" (Not My Type), with her most recent film, "Close," being nominated for Cannes in 2022.
French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati expressed her condolences, stating that "Francophone cinema has lost, too soon, a talented actress who still had so much to offer." Dequenne disclosed in October 2023 that she was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a type of cancer affecting the adrenal gland. In one of her poignant posts on Instagram for World Cancer Day, she reflected on her tough battle with the illness, stating, "What a tough fight! And we don't choose..."
