Émilie Dequenne, Belgian actor and Cannes winner known for 'Rosetta,' dies at 43

Actor Émilie Dequenne, the Belgian prima whose vocation included respective TV bid and dozens of films including the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or victor “Rosetta,” has died.

Charlotte Tourret, a property typical for Dequenne, mourned the histrion connected Instagram. “You were an illustration for america all, by your bonzer force, your courage,” Tourret said successful her tribute translated from French to English. “You are an inspiring woman, a large soul, a large histrion and I volition retrieve your laughing eyes and your light.”

Tourret added: “I emotion you everlastingly my Émilie.”

Dequenne’s household confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the histrion died Sunday successful a infirmary extracurricular of Paris aft her conflict with a uncommon cancer. Dequenne revealed successful 2023 that she was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma and had shared her crab travel with fans connected societal media until the weeks preceding her death. She was 43.

Dequenne was calved successful Belœil, Belgium, successful 1981 and studied play astatine the Académie de Musique de Baudour. She began her nonrecreational acting vocation astatine 18 with a starring relation successful brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s “Rosetta.” The coming-of-age play follows Dequenne’s titular quality and her efforts to flight her trailer-park upbringing for a amended life.

“Rosetta,” which erstwhile Times professional Kenneth Turan dubbed “a triumph of humanistic cinema,” premiered astatine the 1999 Cannes Film Fesitval and won the coveted Palme d’Or, and Dequenne won the histrion award.

In his review, Turan praised “the acquisition of Dequenne’s magical acting and the Dardennes’ masterful and sure-handed penning and directing that her [Rosetta’s] strength and determination...coupled with the astir biblical spareness of her wants, marque her a idiosyncratic we attraction terribly about.”

With a festival darling nether her belt, Dequenne was successful precocious request and had collected much than 20 acting credits for French films and TV movies — including “A Song of Innocence” and other Catherine Devenue successful “The Girl connected the Train” successful the aboriginal aughts. Later successful her career, Dequenne would spell backmost to Cannes to beforehand 2 films and observe a milestone for “Rosetta.” She returned to the French Riviera successful 2012 for “Our Children” and took location the Un Certain Regard histrion prize.

Her 3rd quality astatine Cannes was for “Close” successful 2022. Lukas Dhont, who directed Dequenne successful the drama, remembered his prima connected Instagram. He recalled precious moments from down the scenes and said the precocious histrion was “never acrophobic to determination into the unknown, into the dark.”

Dhont added: “I can’t enactment into words however overmuch I’ve learned from you. What an honour to beryllium by your side. I volition transportation you with maine Émilie, Rosetta, Sophie, and each the different women you’ve portrayed truthful carefully.”

Dequenne revisited “Rosetta” astatine the 2024 Cannes Film Festival for the movie‘s 25th day celebration. In an affectional interrogation with French speech amusement “C à Vous,” she spoke astir celebrating the film’s milestone amid her crab battle.

“I needed to return,” she said.

Her last movie credits see 2024 films “Retro Therapy,” “Survive” and “TKT.”

She is survived by her husband, manager and shaper Michel Ferracci, and girl Milla Savarese.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.