Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, who soared to fame with her groundbreaking performance in the 1999 Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or-winning drama "Rosetta," directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, has passed away at the age of 43. Her agent, Danielle Gain, announced to AFP that Dequenne, who bravely disclosed her battle against a rare adrenal gland cancer in October 2023, succumbed to the illness in a hospital on the outskirts of Paris on Sunday evening.
Born on August 29, 1981, Dequenne's journey in the arts began at a tender age at Belgium's Music & Spoken Word Academy in Baudour. At just 12, she embarked on her dramatic pursuit, simultaneously joining the La Relève Theater troupe. Her cinematic debut came at 17, stealing hearts and earning her the Best Actress award at Cannes for her portrayal of the titular teenager in "Rosetta," a film that also secured the Dardenne brothers their maiden Palme d'Or. In this heart-wrenching tale, Dequenne portrayed a young girl living in a caravan with her alcoholic mother, a role that catapulted her to international acclaim.
Throughout the 2000s, Dequenne's career flourished as she graced the silver screen in diverse roles. She appeared in Christophe Gans' historical thriller "The Brotherhood of the Wolf" and Claude Berri's "The Housekeeper," while also venturing into English-language cinema with Mary McGuckian's costume drama "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," alongside Gabriel Byrne, Robert de Niro, and Cathy Bates. Her impressive resume boasts 61 acting credits, including her recent César Award-winning performance as Best Supporting Actress in Emmanuel Mouret's relationship drama "The Things We Say, The Things We Do."
Other notable highlights in her career include her poignant portrayal in Joachim Lafosse's 2012 psychological family drama "Our Children," opposite Tahar Rahim; her powerful turn in Lucas Belvaux's 2018 far-right drama "This Is Our Land," which earned her a Belgian Magritte Award for Best Actress; and her role in Lukas Dhont's Oscar-nominated film "Close." Most recently, Dequenne was seen on the big screen last fall in the Belgian high school bullying drama "TKT," where she delivered a compelling performance as the mother of a young victim who falls into a coma.
Dequenne's life and career were a testament to her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the arts, leaving a lasting impression on the film industry and the hearts of countless fans.
