Belgian Actress Emilie Dequenne, Cannes Best Actress Winner, Dies At 43

March 17, 2025: Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne, renowned for her award-winning performance in Rosetta (1999), has tragically passed away at the age of 43. The actress, who revealed her battle with a rare adrenal gland cancer in October 2023, died on Sunday evening at a hospital on the outskirts of Paris, according to her agent Danielle Gain.

Born on August 29, 1981, Dequenne’s acting journey began early. She studied at Belgium’s Music & Spoken Word Academy and joined the La Releve Theater troupe at the age of 12. At just 17, she landed her first role in Rosetta, which earned her the prestigious Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999. The film, directed by the Dardenne brothers, also won the Palme d’Or.

Throughout the 2000s, Emilie became one of the most sought-after actresses in French cinema, starring in films like The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) and The Housekeeper (2002). She also ventured into English-language films with The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004), alongside stars like Robert de Niro and Gabriel Byrne.

Emilie Dequenne’s more recent work included a Best Supporting Actress César award for her role in The Things We Say, The Things We Do (2020). Her final on-screen appearance was in the Belgian film TKT (2023), in which she portrayed the mother of a high school bullying victim.

Her sudden passing has left a void in the world of cinema, with fans and colleagues mourning the loss of a talented actress who made a lasting impact through her powerful performances.