![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_307212786-7569-e1785689447791.jpg\")
\n\t\tNatalia Dontcheva played Julie Derville in the French remake of the Cornwall-set ITV show (Picture: Instagram\/Hugo Selignac)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tNatalia Dontcheva played Julie Derville in the French remake of the Cornwall-set ITV show (Picture: Instagram\/Hugo Selignac)<\/p>\n
Natalia Dontcheva, who starred in the French remake of Doc Martin, has died aged 56 after a decade-long illness.<\/p>\n
The Bulgarian actress\u2019 stepson and film producer, Hugo Selignac, paid tribute to her on Instagram.<\/p>\n
Writing in French alongside a headshot of the late star, he said: \u2018I never liked the title \u201cstepmother\u201d \u2013 because when we met, I was no longer a child, and I\u2019d already had a stepmother before.<\/p>\n
\u2018But you have no idea what a truly beautiful person I found you to be, or how deeply I loved who you were.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Thank you for the bond you fought so hard to nurture within our family.<\/p>\n
\u2018Thank you for the confidence you instilled in me by always looking at me with pride, ever since my teenage years.\u2019<\/p>\n
\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_307212671-a825.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Bulgarian actress\u2019 stepson, Hugo Selignac, paid tribute to her on Instagram (Picture: Instagram\/Hugo Selignac)<\/p>\n
He went on to remark on her relationship with his director father Arnaud Selignac, who was Dontcheva\u2019s partner of 25 years.<\/p>\n
He said: \u2018Thank you for helping our dad be a better one, but most of all thank you for caring for him for 25 years, thank you for admiring, caring, supporting, forgiving and most of all loving passionately.\u2019<\/p>\n
Hinting at Dontcheva\u2019s illness, Selignac concluded: \u2018After a ten-year battle, you are finally going to rest. Enjoy it to the fullest; it\u2019s been so long since you\u2019ve had that chance. I will miss you, my beautiful Natalia.\u2019<\/p>\n
Dontcheva\u2019s agent Laurent Savry confirmed the star\u2019s death to The Sun, but did not share any further details on the nature of her illness. <\/p>\n
He said in a statement: \u2018It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Natalia Dontcheva.<\/p>\n
\u2018A profoundly talented artist and woman of great sensitivity, Natalia Dontcheva touched audiences with the precision of her performances, her elegance and her dedication to her craft.<\/p>\n
\u2018Throughout her career, she earned the respect of her co-stars, directors, film crews and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.\u2019<\/p>\n
Having moved to France to attend an acting conservatory and pursue a career on the stage, Dontcheva was cast as Julie Derville in the French remake of the Cornwall-set ITV show for four years, appearing across 26 episodes.<\/p>\n
French broadcaster TF1 adapted the series about a curmudgeonly ex-surgeon with a blood phobia, based in the fictional Breton town of Port-Garrec, as a seaside substitute for Port Wenn.<\/p>\n
Her co-star Tatiana Gousseff also shared a tribute on Instagram, posting a photo she took of the actress while they were filming the medical drama in Brittany.<\/p>\n
She wrote: \u2018I always had my Argentine Nikon handy, for four seasons, I shot\u2026until I could no longer.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh, how we laughed! Such wonderful memories! And how I loved discovering you in the theatre later in the beautiful role of Dorothy Parker\u2026.I am speechless.\u2019<\/p>\n
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