Spanish actress Verónica Echegui has died at the age of 42 following a battle with cancer. She passed away on Sunday after being hospitalised in Madrid, with her cancer diagnosis kept private from most of the Spanish film industry.
The celebrated star was known for her roles in "I Am Juani", "Kathmandu Lullaby", "Family United" and the Sky Atlantic series "Fortitude". Her death prompted tributes from Spain's highest levels of society and international colleagues.
Antonio Banderas said: "Today, Spanish cinema is in mourning due to the passing of Verónica Echegui. My condolences to her family and friends." The Hollywood star led widespread industry mourning for the talented performer.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted: "I was deeply shocked by the news of Verónica Echegui's passing, an actress with enormous talent and humility who leaves us far too young. My sincere embrace in these such difficult moments for the entire family and friends."
Career highlights
Echegui rose to fame in 2006 with her breakthrough role in "I Am Juani", which earned her a Goya Award nomination for Best New Actress. Born in 1983, she trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) after abandoning sociology studies, according to reports.
Her career spanned 18 years and included more than 30 films and television shows. Metro reports she also made her directorial debut with "Tótem loba", which won the Goya Award for Best Short Film in 2022.
Argentine actor Juan Diego Botto wrote: "I'm in shock at the loss of the great actress Verónica Echegui. A huge loss for our cinema. My warmest condolences to her family and friends."
Final work
Her final screen role was in the Apple TV+ romantic comedy series "Love You To Death", released earlier this year after filming in August 2023. In her last interviews promoting the series, she discussed themes of mortality, saying: "The series asks many questions about death and life, because it's impossible to talk about death without talking about life and how you live it."
El País described Echegui as "an essential talent in Spanish cinema of the last two decades". Fans and colleagues have called her death a devastating loss to Spanish culture, with many highlighting her warmth and professionalism alongside her acting abilities.
Sources used: "Mirror", "Daily Mail", "Metro", "Daily Star", "El País" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
