Bulgarian actress Natalia Dontcheva has passed away aged 56. 

Natalia, who played Julie Derville in the French remake of Doc Martin from 2011 and 2015, died on Saturday following a short illness, her agent confirmed. 

A statement read: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Natalia Dontcheva. A profoundly talented artist and woman of great sensitivity, Natalia Dontcheva touched audiences with the precision of her performances...

'Her elegance and her dedication to her craft. Throughout her career, she earned the respect of her co-stars, directors, film crews and all who had the privilege of working alongside her.'

Her stepson, Hugo Sélignac, whose father is Natalia's partner of 25 years, Arnaud Selignac, took to Instagram to share an image of the star, writing: 'I never liked the title 'stepmother' - because when we met, I was no longer a child...

'And I'd already had a stepmother before-but you have no idea what a truly *beautiful* person I found you to be, or how deeply I loved who you were...

'Thank you for the bond you fought so hard to nurture within our family. Thank you for the confidence you instilled in me by always looking at me with pride, ever since my teenage years; thank you for looking after Georgia...

'Thank you for welcoming my children as your own; thank you for helping our father become a better dad; but above all, thank you for taking care of him for twenty-five years-for admiring, uplifting, supporting, forgiving, and, most of all, passionately loving him.

'We had our ups and downs, but we were a family-and on the Selignac side, you were our rock. The only promise I can make you today is that I will do everything to keep alive what you fought so hard to sustain.

'After a ten-year battle, you are finally going to rest. Enjoy it to the fullest; it's been so long since you've had that chance. I will miss you, my beautiful Natalia.'

The Bulgarian star was best known to international audiences for her performances as Madame de Joncquières in Lady J, and as Elena in Sashinka.