Get the latest OK! breaking news on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More infoJoin us on WhatsApp Actress Emilie Dequenne has tragically passed away at the age of 43 following a battle with a rare cancer. The Belgian star was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a cancer affecting the adrenal gland, two years ago. Emilie bravely fought her illness and in October 2023, she announced the start of her treatment. By April 2024, she shared an uplifting update that she was in remission, expressing her relief in a heartfelt message: “I was close to forgetting because I was leaving the hospital today after 13 days… What a tough battle.” However, sadly, the cancer returned at the end of last year. She told French television show TF1: “I know I will not live as long as planned,” as she spoke openly about her condition deteriorating over the months.
Actress Emilie Dequenne has tragically passed away at the age of 43 following a battle with a rare cancer
BBC audiences will fondly remember Emilie for her performance as Laurence Relaud in the hit series The Missing. Her remarkable talent also shone through in the film Rosetta, which garnered her the prestigious Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She also featuring in films such as Wolf, Yes, But…, The Very Merry Widows, The Light, and Close, as well as French-language titles like The Girl On The Train and Our Children, reports the Mirror. Emilie had wrapped up filming her latest movie, Survive, towards the end of 2022. She said she didn’t know she was sick at the time as she shared with Action Elite: “So I’m fighting cancer, which is something really strange when you look at Survive and me fighting against all the crabs. But I didn’t know I was sick by the time I was shooting the movie, and I got sick almost like six or eight months later. I’m still fighting.”
Emilie Dequenne as Laurence in The Missing
(Image: TV Grab)
Emilie opened up about how motherhood influenced her decision to accept her role. She explained: “I can’t explain, but when you became a mother, it’s like your strength and your power and your braveness completely changed. And you see life through another vision. And that’s what completely attracted me when I read the script, is that for me, it was really realistic, actually despite the fact that, of course, it’s dystopic and I love that.” In The Missing, Emilie took on the role of Laurence Relaud, a compassionate local police officer who lends support to Tony Hughes, portrayed by James Nesbitt. Tony is thrown into turmoil when his son Oliver vanishes in France, igniting an intense search. He grapples with the need for answers and finds himself unable to move forward without uncovering the truth about his son’s disappearance. Beyond The Missing, Emilie was honoured with the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999 for her role in Rosetta, which also bagged a Palme d’Or. Additionally, she scooped up the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actress at the same festival for her portrayal of Murielle in Our Children in 2012. This role also earned her a Magritte Award and a nomination for a Satellite Award. Emilie leaves behind her husband Michel Ferracci and their daughter.
