Departures of note

Natalia Dontcheva was born in 1969 in Sofia, Bulgaria, the daughter of well‑known Bulgarian actor Plamen Donchev. She trained at the Bulgarian Conservatory before moving to France in 1989, where she began a prolific acting career.

In France, Dontcheva became a familiar face on television, featuring in popular TF1 series such as "Julie Lescaut" and "Une femme d’honneur". She is perhaps best remembered for recurring guest roles as Mimie's client in "Joséphine, ange gardien" (1998, 2001, 2014) and for her multi‑episode stint alongside Thierry Lhermitte in "Doc Martin" between 2011 and 2015. Her later TV work included appearances in "Les Disparus de la Forêt noire" (2023) and "Disparition inquiétante" on France 2 (2024).

Dontcheva also worked in cinema, with roles in Emmanuel Mouret’s "Madame de Joncquières" and Xavier Gianolli’s "L’Apparition" (both 2018). On stage she performed in productions such as "Le malade imaginaire" opposite Daniel Auteuil (2019) and portrayed Dorothy Parker in "Excusez‑moi pour la poussière" at the Lucernaire (2016).

She died on 1 August 2026 at the age of 57. Her death was noted by fellow actors and the French entertainment community, who remembered her as a talented and versatile performer.