Emilie Dequenne’s family and agent confirmed her death to the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, March 16. She passed away from a rare form of cancer in a hospital near Paris that evening.
Her passing follows the announcement in October 2023, where Dequenne shared on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a cancer of the adrenal glands. In her post, she revealed that after undergoing a major emergency operation in mid-August, she was continuing her fight against the illness. “It’s not easy every day, but I’m determined to beat this rare cancer that has turned my life upside down,” she wrote. “I won’t let it win, believe me!” She added that the support from loved ones and fans filled her with strength, saying, “Your thoughts towards me will be my strength.”
Dequenne made her debut at age 17 in the 1999 drama Rosetta, which earned her a Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Luc Dardenne, co-director of the film, paid tribute to her, saying, “It’s terrible, life is disgusting sometimes. She was so young, and she still had so much to do.” He recalled her audition for Rosetta where she arrived dressed up, but it was her raw talent and presence that truly stood out. “She was magnificent,” he remembered.
In addition to Rosetta, Dequenne’s career spanned films and TV shows such as The Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Housekeeper, The Girl on the Train, An Ordinary Man, and more. Dardenne described her as “extraordinary” and highlighted her passion for acting. “Filming was her life,” he said. Her final project, the 2024 film TKT, portrayed the mother of a 16-year-old girl in a coma.
Dequenne is survived by her husband, actor Michel Ferracci, and their 22-year-old daughter, Milla Savarese, from her previous relationship with Alexandre Savarese. One of her final posts on Instagram was on World Cancer Day, where she spoke about her battle with the illness. “What a fierce battle!” she wrote after leaving the hospital following a 13-day stay. She also expressed gratitude for her family’s support and sent love to others fighting similar battles.
Dequenne’s passing has left the film world mourning the loss of an extraordinary talent, remembered for her beauty, strength, and dedication to her craft.
