Émilie Dequenne, the acclaimed Belgian actor renowned for her remarkable performance in the Dardenne Brothers’ 1999 film “Rosetta,” has sadly passed away at the age of 43. The news was confirmed by her family to French news agency AFP on Sunday night. Dequenne succumbed to a rare type of cancer, specifically adrenocortical carcinoma, which affects the adrenal glands located above the kidneys. She had publicly disclosed her diagnosis in October 2023, revealing the battle she was facing.
Born on August 29, 1981, in Belœil, Belgium, Émilie Dequenne was only 18 years old when she captured the hearts of audiences with her role in “Rosetta.” This poignant coming-of-age film tells the story of a teenager struggling to find her place in the world while living in a trailer park with her alcoholic mother. Dequenne’s exceptional performance earned her the prestigious Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Rosetta” also won the coveted Palme d’Or.
Following her breakout in “Rosetta,” Dequenne starred in a variety of films, showcasing her versatility as an actress. In 2001, she appeared in “Brotherhood of the Wolf,” a commercial success directed by Christophe Gans. Dequenne continued to expand her portfolio with roles in both mainstream and indie films, including Philippe Lioret’s “The Light” (2004), the 2009 drama “The Girl on the Train” alongside esteemed actress Catherine Deneuve, and the horror film “The Pack” (2010) directed by Franck Richard.
Her performance in Joachim Lafosse’s psychological drama “Our Children” (2012) was met with critical acclaim, earning her another trip to Cannes, this time to receive the Best Actress Prize in the festival's Un Certain Regard section. Dequenne’s impressive filmography also includes the Belgian romantic comedy “Not My Type” (2014), the political drama “This Is Our Land” (2017), Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s)” (2020), and Lukas Dhont’s coming-of-age film “Close” (2022).
In 2022, Dequenne returned to Cannes to commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Rosetta,” reflecting on her journey as an actress. Her final film, the English-language disaster movie “Survive,” was released shortly before her passing. Luc Dardenne, who directed her in “Rosetta,” expressed his sorrow over her untimely death in an interview with France Info radio. “She was really too young, she had so many things to do,” Dardenne remarked. “Acting was her life. She was an actress who could have done many things and whom people loved.”
Dardenne further praised her for her intuitive talent, hard work, and passion for acting, emphasizing how much her colleagues cherished her spirit. Émilie Dequenne leaves behind her husband, the author Michel Ferracci, and her daughter, Milla Savarese, whom she had with her previous partner Alexandre Savarese. Her legacy as a talented actress will forever be remembered in the film industry.
