Veronica Echegui dead: Antonio Banderas leads tributes as Spanish actress dies at 42

Spanish actress Verónica Echegui died at the age of 42 following a battle with cancer. The My Prisoner's Yard star was hospitalised in Madrid and passed away on Sunday, with local newspaper, El País, reporting that a small number of people in Spanish cinema knew about her cancer diagnosis.

Verónica was known for her roles in I Am Juani, Bunny and the Bell, Kathmandu Lullaby, Family United, You're Killing Me Susana and The Offering. After the news of her death went public, Antonio Banderas and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paid tribute to the highly celebrated star.

Desperado actor Antonio wrote on X/ Twitter : "Today, Spanish cinema is in mourning due to the passing of Verónica Echegui. My condolences to her family and friends."

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Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez posted: "I was deeply shocked by the news of Verónica Echegui’s passing, an actress with enormous talent and humility who leaves us far too young. My sincere embrace in these such difficult moments for the entire family and friends."

Argentine actor Juan Diego Botto, known for On the Fringe, wrote: "I'm in shock at the loss of the great actress Verónica Echegui. A huge loss for our cinema. My warmest condolences to her family and friends."

Local news called Verónica "an essential talent in Spanish cinema of the last two decades", while fans called her a "legend" who was taken "too soon".

One fan said: "I was deeply moved by your work in “I Am Juani” and I admired you greatly. Today I’m stunned to hear that you’re gone. What a sad day today. My deepest condolences to all the family and closest friends. RIP."

"The most beautiful smile in cinema. Talented, good person, and full of light. How can someone so full of life leave us? Fly high, dear Verónica Echegui," another person commented on X.

La 2, a Spanish TV channel, shared their own tribute: "We bid farewell with deep sadness to the actress Verónica Echegui, a unique and courageous voice in film and television. At 42 years old, she leaves us far too soon."

Verónica was born in 1983 and made her TV debut with a small roles in A New Life and Paco and Veva. She rose to fame in 2006 with a lead part in Yo soy la Juani - which earned her a Goya Award nomination for Best New Actress.

In 2015, she played Elena Ledesma in Sky Atlantic's horror psychological thriller Fortitude before taking on the role of Maria Rodríguez in Book of Love.

Her final TV role was in the Apple TV+ series Love You To Death, which was a romantic comedy released earlier this year.

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