Spanish cinema is in mourning. Actress Verónica Echegui passed away on Sunday, August 24, at the age of 42. The Madrid-born actress passed away after a long illness, according to sources cited by El Mundo and later confirmed by ¡HOLA!, Spain edition. Known for her roles in films like Yo soy la Juani and No culpes al karma de lo que te pasa por gilipollas, Echegui had been ill and, true to her private nature, faced this difficult time surrounded by her closest loved ones.
Echegui's last project
The actress’s final social media post was on June 15, when she shared the promotion for A muerte, a series created by Dani de la Orden. The story follows cautious Raúl (played by Joan Amargós), who, after being diagnosed with rare heart cancer and given little chance of survival, reconnects with Marta (played by Echegui), a free-spirited woman who has just discovered she is pregnant. Although the storyline may seem complex, it is actually a celebration of life, friendship, and love.
More than an actress
Echegui received her first Goya Award nomination in 2006 for her role in the film Yo soy la Juani, directed by Bigas Luna. Three more nominations followed for the films Kathmandu, A Mirror in the Sky, Family United, and Explota Explota. However, it wasn’t until 2022, during her work as a director, that she finally won the coveted prize.
The Madrid-born artist was awarded the Goya Award for Best Fiction Short Film with Tótem Loba, a powerful statement against gender violence inspired by a personal experience she went through at 17. As she accepted the award, she dedicated heartfelt words to her partner, who was standing by her side on stage: “My love, how thrilled I am to grow by your side. I love you.”
Dreams left behind
The actress departed prematurely, leaving behind many unfulfilled dreams. She had hoped to star in more series and shoot an independent film, the kind that tells small stories full of meaning. She also longed to work with acclaimed directors such as Clara Roquet, Elena Martín, or Rodrigo Sorogoyen. But it wasn’t meant to be, and today the world of cinema and all those who admired her mourn her unexpected and painful passing.
Álex García, her great love
Her greatest love was actor Álex García. They met in 2010 during the filming of Seis Puntos Sobre Emma, where Verónica played a blind young woman dreaming of motherhood and searching for the perfect father for her child, a role played by Álex himself.
They were such a happy couple that they often shared movie-worthy kisses on the red carpet. Echegui used to describe her boyfriend as "the most luminous person in the world" and expressed her desire to become a mother in the future. “I would like to start a family. I’m not closed to anything. "Let the children come when they want," she said sincerely.
Álex, for his part, said the key to their relationship was simply wanting to make it work. “A long-term relationship takes effort, and we’re willing to put that in. I still don’t fully understand what love is, but I know it’s about desire and building a shared project together,” he explained.
For Verónica, love was the most important thing in the world, as she expressed in a 2022 interview with Magazine de La Vanguardia: “We fill our brains with data, but what about our relationships? What do you take with you when you die? Money? No. Knowledge? No. Material things? None. The only thing you take with you is love.”