Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of their own.
Verónica Echegui—known for her role as Marta in Apple TV+’s Love You to Death—died on Aug. 24 at Madrid’s 12 de Octubre University Hospital where she was being treated for cancer, according to Variety. She was 42.
The Spanish actress kickstarted her career back in 2006 when Spanish director Bigas Luna cast her in 2006’s My Name is Juani. And though the movie drew in mixed reviews at the time, Echegui went on to receive her first Spanish Academy nomination for her remarkable performance.
In the years following, she also received nominations for her work in 2009’s My Prison Yard, 2012’s Katmandu and 2022’s My Heart Goes Boom, as well as winning the Best Fiction Short Film award for her directorial debut, Tótem Loba, in 2022.
After the tragic news of her passing broke, Echegui’s friends and colleagues—including Spanish actor Antonio Banderas—expressed their heartbreak on social media.
“Today Spanish cinema is mourning the death of Veronica Echegui,” the Mask of Zorro star wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the actress. “My condolences.”
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reflected on the lasting impact Echegui made through her work.
“I was deeply shocked by the news of Verónica Echegui’s passing,” he wrote on X, “an actress with enormous talent and humility who leaves us far too young.”
While she landed a role in the indie comedy film Bunny and the Bull alongside The Great British Baking Show host Noel Fielding backin 2009, the actress didn’t star in her first major American production until three years later.
Indeed, she marked the milestone with her portrayal of receptionist Lucia Caldera in The Cold Light of Day alongside Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver and Henry Cavill.
A decade later, she went on to play a translator in Prime Video’s Book of Love alongside Sam Claflin, who played a British novelist in the romantic comedy series.
And for his part, the Me Before You star remembered his former costar with an emotional tribute of his own.
“I’m heartbroken hearing the news about the magical @veronicaechegui,” he wrote on social media, per Variety. “F–k you cancer.”
E! News has reached out to her rep for additional comment.
