Spanish actress Verónica Echegui, known for her vibrant screen presence and international work in film and television, has died at the age of 42.
Echegui passed away on August 24 at Madrid’s 12 de Octubre Hospital, following a private battle with cancer. Her illness had been kept from the public, and her sudden passing has come as a shock to Spain’s film industry.
Echegui first gained national recognition with her breakout role in Bigas Luna’s 2006 film My Name Is Juani, a performance that earned her a Goya nomination for Best New Actress. Over the years, she received three additional Goya nominations: for Best Leading Actress in My Prison Yard (2009) and Katmandú (2012), and for Best Supporting Actress in My Heart Goes Boom (2022). She later won her first Goya Award for her directorial debut, the short film Totem Loba, which examined gender dynamics through horror genre conventions.
Trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Echegui worked across Spanish and international productions. Her credits include the UK series Fortitude, the Mexican film You’re Killing Me Susana opposite Gael García Bernal, and the 2022 Amazon Prime rom-com Book of Love alongside Sam Claflin. Her final role was in Atresplayer’s Love You to Death, acquired by Apple TV+, where she portrayed a dynamic, commitment-averse but pregnant woman named Marta.
Tributes poured in following her death. Actor Sam Claflin wrote, “I’m heartbroken hearing the news about the magical @veronicaechegui. F*** you cancer.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also honored her, calling her “an actress with enormous talent and humility who leaves us far too young.”
Echegui is remembered for her fearless performances, bold energy, and contributions to Spanish cinema and beyond.
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