Natalia Dontcheva , the Bulgarian actress known for starring in TF1’s French adaptation of Doc Martin , died on August 3, 2026, at age 56. Her stepson, French producer Hugo Sélignac, confirmed her death, while no cause was publicly disclosed. Sélignac described Dontcheva as having endured a “ten-year battle,” but he did not provide further details. In a statement shared through British media, her agent Laurent Savry praised her precision, elegance and deep commitment to acting. Her Career Was Bigger Than One Hit Role Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1969, Dontcheva appeared in the French Doc Martin from 2011 through 2015. The TF1 series adapted the British medical comedy drama that airs on ITV, giving Dontcheva a four year run in one of French television’s most recognizable international remakes. Dontcheva’s final screen credit came in the French drama Disturbing Disappearances . She also earned a 2019 Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Quebec Cinema Awards for her performance in Sashinka , adding a major honors moment to a career that crossed French, Bulgarian and Quebec productions.