Actress Natalia Dontcheva, best known for her role in the French adaptation of Doc Martin, has died at the age of 56 following a long illness.
Her agent, Laurent Savry, confirmed the heartbreaking news, describing her as “a profoundly talented artist” whose elegance, sensitivity, and dedication left a lasting impression on audiences and colleagues alike.
Dontcheva became widely recognised for portraying Julie Derville in the French version of Doc Martin from 2011 to 2015. Throughout her career, she earned admiration for her work across theatre, television, and film.
Her stepson, Hugo Selignac, paid an emotional tribute on Instagram, thanking her for the love, strength, and support she brought to their family. Reflecting on her decade-long battle with illness, he wrote: “After a ten-year battle, you are finally going to rest… I will miss you, my beautiful Natalia.”
Natalia was the longtime partner of French director Arnaud Selignac for 25 years. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she initially considered a career in medicine or international relations before pursuing acting after landing an early film role. She later moved to France in 1989, trained at a Paris acting conservatory, and built a successful career on stage and screen.
Tributes have continued to pour in from friends and former co-stars. Actress Tatiana Gousseff remembered the joy they shared while filming Doc Martin, while actress Christine Citti described Dontcheva as “beautiful, funny, strong, loving,” and praised her remarkable creativity and kindness.
Natalia Dontcheva is remembered not only for her memorable performances but also for the warmth, grace, and generosity she brought to those who knew her.