Doc Martin star Natalia Dontcheva dies aged 56 after long illness

Natalia Dontcheva played Julie Derville in the Cornwall-set ITV show (Picture: Instagram/Hugo Selignac)

Doc Martin star Natalia Dontcheva has died aged 56 after a decade-long illness.

The Bulgarian actress’ stepson and film producer, Hugo Selignac, paid tribute to her on Instagram.

Writing in French alongside a headshot of the late star, he said: ‘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.’