The Spanish film industry is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Verónica Echegui, the acclaimed actress who passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at the age of 42. According to several reports, the Fortitude star had been battling cancer in secret for a long time before her health gave in. As confirmed by HOLA (Spanish edition), Verónica passed away at 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid.
Echegui kept her health struggles private throughout her life, which makes her sudden passing even more shocking for the industry and her fans. In her final battle, the actress, true to her nature, chose to fight in secret. In her final moments, Echegui was surrounded by her closest loved ones, including her long-time partner and renowned Spanish actor-director, Álex García.
Verónica’s death has left a profound void in the Spanish film industry, but nothing compares to the emptiness felt by her grieving family, especially her partner, Álex, who remained by her side until the very end.
Verónica Echegui and Álex García’s relationship bloomed from an on-screen romance
Verónica and Álex’s paths first crossed 15 years ago in 2010, when they were filming Roberto Pérez Toledo’s Seis Puntos Sobre Emma (Six Points About Emma). In the film, Verónica played ‘Emma’, a blind woman desperate to become a mother, while Álex stepped into the shoes of ‘Germán’, the potential father figure she longed for.
What began as an on-screen pairing soon bloomed into a deep bond in real life, and before they knew it, Echegui and García were deeply in love with each other. The two have been together ever since, also starring together in the 2016 comedy romance, No culpes al karma de lo que te pasa por gilipollas (Don’t Blame the Karma for Being an Idiot).
Despite being in a relationship for over a decade, Verónica and Álex, both acclaimed stars in Spanish cinema, managed to keep most of their personal life away from the public eye. However, over the years, Echegui occasionally chose not to hide her admiration for García and instead expressed her unyielding love for her partner.
What Echegui and García said about each other
In a 2017 interview with Hola, the Goya Award winner spoke up about her relationship with Álex with admiration. The couple’s commitment to each other was evident with the Fortitude actress’s words:
“The secret to our relationship lies in love. A long-term relationship requires work, and we want to work on it.”
Another memorable moment was when Echegui openly expressed her love for the Fatum actor in 2022 at the Goya Awards gala. After winning the Best Fiction Short Film award for Tótem Loba, a short film on gender violence directed by her, the actress delivered a heartfelt tribute to Álex. She said:
“My love, how thrilled I am to grow by your side. I love you.”
While they never legally married, Verónica and Álex were married in spirit. The couple remained deeply in love and committed throughout their 15-year relationship. Echegui frequently described García as ‘the most luminous person in the world’ and spoke openly about her dream of becoming a mother one day. The actress once shared:
“I would like to start a family. I’m not closed to anything. Let the children come when they want.”
Álex, too, has been occasionally vocal about his love and admiration for Verónica, the two sharing numerous heartfelt PDA moments at red carpets and other events. Speaking about his take on love and long-lasting relationships, the actor explained:
“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.”
Who is Álex García?
Álex García is a well-acclaimed name in the Spanish entertainment industry, celebrated for his stellar performances in works like Riot Police (2020), The Inmortal (2022) and Fatum (2023). Born November 14, 1981, in Spain’s Canary Islands, the 43-year-old actor has built a career across television and cinema with his versatile presence.
Álex García rose to fame through TV series like Tierra de lobos and Amar en tiempos revueltos (Love in Difficult Times). He has proven his versatility as an actor and director, taking on roles ranging from light-hearted comedy to high-stakes roles that demand intense drama.
Despite being public figures, both Verónica and Álex kept their relationship relatively private, sharing occasional glimpses of their bond at film premieres, red-carpet events, and rare interviews. The actress had once shared that García was the only ‘actor boyfriend’ in her life, and she was proud of his talent and humility.
In an old interview quoted by HOLA, Álex García had once expressed his philosophy on love and the true bond he shared with Verónica. Speaking about the secret to longevity in their relationship, the actor shared:
“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.”
Who was Verónica Echegui?
Verónica Echegui, born Verónica Fernández Echegaray in Madrid in June 1983, was a much-celebrated Spanish actress and filmmaker who was known for her powerful performances and versatility. Born on June 16, 1983, in Madrid, Spain, Verónica rose to prominence in 2006 with Bigas Luna’s Yo soy la Juani (I Am Juani), where her portrayal of an aspiring young woman who wants to pursue acting earned her first Goya Award nomination.
In her limited time, Echegui has starred in multiple projects that include dozens of films and television shows. Her last social media post, made on June 15, 2025, was a promotion of perhaps her last-ever work, A Muerte, a series created by Dani de la Orden.
Echegui had dreams of continuing to expand her career. She wanted to work on independent films and collaborate with acclaimed Spanish directors like Clara Roquet and Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Sadly, those ambitions remain unfulfilled.
Verónica’s legacy lives on through her performances and her directorial triumph, and now, her love story with Álex remains incomplete.
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