Émilie Dequenne, the Belgian actress who rose to fame with her award-winning performance in the Dardenne Brothers’ film “Rosetta” at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999, passed away at the age of 43. Her family confirmed to the French news agency AFP that she lost her battle with a rare form of cancer in a hospital near Paris. In October 2023, Dequenne had revealed she was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a type of cancer affecting the adrenal glands in the kidney.
Born in Belœil, Belgium on August 29, 1981, Dequenne was only 18 when she gained recognition for her role in “Rosetta,” a poignant story about a teenager living with her alcoholic mother in a trailer park. Her exceptional performance earned her the prestigious Best Actress award at Cannes, and the film itself received the Palme d’Or at the festival. She continued to showcase her talent in various films, including the successful “Brotherhood of the Wolf” (2001) and the critically acclaimed “Our Children” (2012), for which she won another Best Actress award at Cannes.
Dequenne’s diverse filmography also includes projects like “The Light” (2004), “The Girl on the Train” (2009), “The Pack” (2010), “Not My Type” (2014), “This Is Our Land” (2017), “Love Affair(s)” (2020), and “Close” (2022). She last appeared in the English-language disaster film “Survive.” Her legacy as an actress was revered by many in the industry, including director Luc Dardenne, who worked with her on “Rosetta” and remarked on her talent and dedication to the craft.
She is survived by her husband, author Michel Ferracci, and her daughter, Milla Savarese. Émilie Dequenne will be remembered for her remarkable contributions to cinema and her enduring passion for acting.
