Natalia Dontcheva, the Bulgarian-born actress best known for her role in the French television adaptation of Doc Martin, has died aged 56. Her stepson, film producer Hugo Sélignac, announced her passing on social media, writing that she was "finally going to rest" after a "10-year battle."
Dontcheva was born in Sofia in 1969 and moved to France to study acting. She gained prominence between 2011 and 2015 playing Julie Derville in the TF1 remake of the British medical drama, appearing in 26 episodes. Her television credits also included roles in Julie Lescaut, Joséphine, ange gardien, and Alice Nevers. In film, she held supporting roles in features including Mademoiselle de Joncquières and L'Apparition, and received a Quebec Cinema Award nomination in 2019 for her performance in Sashinka.
Her agent Laurent Savry confirmed the death without detailing the nature of her illness. Co-star Tatiana Gousseff posted a tribute on Instagram.