Natalia Dontcheva passes away at 56; stepson Hugo Selignac pens emotional tribute; 'You were our foundation'
ETimes | August 3, 2026 4:39 PM CST
Bulgarian-born actress Natalia Dontcheva , known for her work in French cinema and television, has passed away at the age of 56 following a prolonged illness. Best remembered by many viewers for appearing in the French adaptation of 'Doc Martin', the actress reportedly battled health issues for nearly a decade before her death.
Hugo Selignac remembers his stepmotherAmong the most emotional tributes came from her stepson, film producer Hugo Selignac, who shared a heartfelt message on Instagram.
In his tribute, he wrote, "My Natalia, I never liked the title of "stepmother" because, by the time we met, I was no longer a child. I had already had a stepmother before. But you can never know just how much I thought you were a truly beautiful person, and how deeply I loved who you were."
"Thank you for the bond you fought so hard to nurture within our family. Thank you for the confidence you gave me by always looking at me with pride since my teenage years. Thank you for taking care of Georgia. Thank you for welcoming my children as if they were your own. Thank you for helping our father become a better man. But above all, thank you for taking care of him for 25 years. Thank you for admiring him, carrying him through difficult times, supporting him, forgiving him, and, most importantly, loving him with all your heart."
"Enjoy your peace. It has been so long since you were able to. You will be deeply missed, my "Beautiful" Natalia," the emotional post concluded.
Tributes pour in onlineThe post was filled with tributes. One social media user wrote, "Oh no... Rest in peace Natalia ."
Another commented, "You were a Beautiful person and an amazing actress! My memories of work and comradeship with you are in a corner of my heart!." A third simply added, "what a beautiful statement..."
A career across French cinema
Born on December 31, 1969, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Natalia Dontcheva was the daughter of actor Plamen Donchev. She later established herself in French cinema and television, taking on a variety of roles across drama and comedy productions.
In 2019, she earned a Prix Iris nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Sashinka , adding another milestone to her acting career.
Over the years, Dontcheva appeared in several notable films, including 'Voyage dans le temps', 'Rio Adio (Adieu Rio), Le Voyage à Paris', 'Mauvais Esprit', 'Un an', 'Le Pressentiment', 'Le Siffleur', 'Un homme et son chien', 'Coursier', 'Lady J (Mademoiselle de Joncquières)' and 'Sashinka'.
Hugo Selignac remembers his stepmotherAmong the most emotional tributes came from her stepson, film producer Hugo Selignac, who shared a heartfelt message on Instagram.
In his tribute, he wrote, "My Natalia, I never liked the title of "stepmother" because, by the time we met, I was no longer a child. I had already had a stepmother before. But you can never know just how much I thought you were a truly beautiful person, and how deeply I loved who you were."
"Thank you for the bond you fought so hard to nurture within our family. Thank you for the confidence you gave me by always looking at me with pride since my teenage years. Thank you for taking care of Georgia. Thank you for welcoming my children as if they were your own. Thank you for helping our father become a better man. But above all, thank you for taking care of him for 25 years. Thank you for admiring him, carrying him through difficult times, supporting him, forgiving him, and, most importantly, loving him with all your heart."
He added, "Our family may have had its imperfections, but we were still a family. And on the Selignac side, you were our foundation. The only promise I can make to you today is that I will do everything I can to preserve what you fought so hard to keep alive. After a ten-year battle, you can finally rest."
"Enjoy your peace. It has been so long since you were able to. You will be deeply missed, my "Beautiful" Natalia," the emotional post concluded.
Tributes pour in onlineThe post was filled with tributes. One social media user wrote, "Oh no... Rest in peace Natalia ."
Another commented, "You were a Beautiful person and an amazing actress! My memories of work and comradeship with you are in a corner of my heart!." A third simply added, "what a beautiful statement..."
A career across French cinema
Born on December 31, 1969, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Natalia Dontcheva was the daughter of actor Plamen Donchev. She later established herself in French cinema and television, taking on a variety of roles across drama and comedy productions.
In 2019, she earned a Prix Iris nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Sashinka , adding another milestone to her acting career.
Over the years, Dontcheva appeared in several notable films, including 'Voyage dans le temps', 'Rio Adio (Adieu Rio), Le Voyage à Paris', 'Mauvais Esprit', 'Un an', 'Le Pressentiment', 'Le Siffleur', 'Un homme et son chien', 'Coursier', 'Lady J (Mademoiselle de Joncquières)' and 'Sashinka'.
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