Natalia Dontcheva, the Bulgarian actress who starred in the French version of Doc Martin on TF1, has died. She was 56.

Dontcheva’s death was confirmed by her stepson, the French producer Hugo Sélignac. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Sélignac referred to her experiencing a “ten-year battle.”

Sélignac, whose father is director Arnaud Selignac, said: “You can’t imagine how wonderful I thought you were and how deeply loved you were.”

In a quote cited in British media, Dontcheva’s agent Laurent Savry said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Natalia Dontcheva.

“A 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.”

Dontcheva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1969. She starred in Doc Martin, the French adaptation of the British series that screens on ITV, for four years between 2011 and 2015.

Her most recent credit was in French drama Disturbing Disappearances. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Quebec Cinema Awards in 2019 for her work in Sashinka.