Funeral of Émilie Dequenne: A Final Tribute and a Call for Cancer Research

Émilie Dequenne’s loved ones and the film industry will pay her a final tribute this Wednesday, March 26, at her funeral at Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. The Belgian actress, who passed away on March 16 at the age of 43 after battling a rare cancer, had requested a ceremony without flowers or wreaths, instead encouraging donations to the Gustave Roussy Institute to support research on adrenocortical carcinoma.

A Battle Against a Rare Disease

Discovered at just 18 in Rosetta by the Dardenne brothers—a performance that earned her the Best Actress award at Cannes—Émilie Dequenne built a remarkable career in French cinema, starring in over fifty films (Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Girl on the Train, Our Children, Love Affair(s)…).

In October 2023, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare endocrine cancer, two months earlier. After a brief remission, the disease became more aggressive, forcing her to step away from acting and resume chemotherapy in December. She passed away in palliative care at the Gustave Roussy hospital.

In line with her wishes, her loved ones have launched a fundraising initiative to support research on this little-known illness. A dedicated page has been created on the Gustave Roussy Institute’s website, emphasizing that she “dreamed of a world where treatments would be more effective.”

A Wave of Tributes from the Film Industry

Her passing deeply moved the film world. The Dardenne brothers paid tribute to her extraordinary talent, with Luc Dardenne recalling their work on Rosetta: “She made the film believable, she made Rosetta come to life.”

Many renowned figures, including Juliette Binoche, Virginie Efira, Leïla Bekhti, Tahar Rahim, and Vincent Macaigne, also expressed their sorrow. Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, remarked, “Rebellious on screen, she was the very embodiment of gentleness in life.”

In May 2024, during a period of remission, Émilie Dequenne made a touching appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. With short hair due to her treatment but a radiant smile, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of Rosetta and presented what would be her final film, Survivre.

A tribute ceremony is also planned in Belgium, in Chièvres, her hometown, where a condolence book will be presented to her family.