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Emmanuelle star Sylvia Kristel dies aged 60
Actress died in her sleep after battle with cancer.
Dutch actress Sylvia Kristel, who starred in the hit 1974 erotic French film ‘Emmanuelle’, has died aged 60.
The star had been suffering from cancer and was admitted to hospital in July after having a stroke.
Her agent, Marieke Verharen, confirmed the actress’s death, saying that “She died during the night during her sleep.”
Kristel rose to fame at the age of 22 when she starred in ‘Emmanuelle’, an erotic tale directed by Frenchman Just Jaeckin, about the sexual promiscuity of a man and his beautiful young wife (played by Kristel) in Thailand.
Due to its raunchy nature, the film was banned in Paris for six months despite having been scheduled to premiere in the city.
UK cinemagoers had to make do with a heavily censored version until 2007 when the unedited film was finally released.
The soft-focus French film was one of the first erotic movies to be shown in mainstream cinemas.
Kristel went on to star in several sequels to ‘Emmanuelle’, as well as Hollywood movies including ‘Private Lessons’ in 1981.
She is survived by her partner Peter Brul and her son Arthur Kristel. She is to be buried at a private funeral.
