Natalia Dontcheva, who starred in the French remake of Doc Martin, has died aged 56 after a decade-long illness.
The Bulgarian actress’ stepson and film producer, Hugo Selignac, paid tribute to her on Instagram.
Writing in French alongside a headshot of the late star, he said: ‘I never liked the title “stepmother” – because when we met, I was no longer a child, and I’d already had a stepmother before.
‘But you have no idea what a truly beautiful person I found you to be, or 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 instilled in me by always looking at me with pride, ever since my teenage years.’
He went on to remark on her relationship with his director father Arnaud Selignac, who was Dontcheva’s partner of 25 years.
He said: ‘Thank 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.’
Hinting at Dontcheva’s illness, Selignac concluded: ‘After a ten-year battle, you are finally going to rest. Enjoy it to the fullest; it’s been so long since you’ve had that chance. I will miss you, my beautiful Natalia.’
Dontcheva’s agent Laurent Savry confirmed the star’s death to The Sun, but did not share any further details on the nature of her illness.
He said in a statement: ‘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.
‘Throughout her career, she earned the respect of her co-stars, directors, film crews and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.’
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.
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.
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.
She wrote: ‘I always had my Argentine Nikon handy, for four seasons, I shot…until I could no longer.
‘Oh, how we laughed! Such wonderful memories! And how I loved discovering you in the theatre later in the beautiful role of Dorothy Parker….I am speechless.’