: Sylvia Kristel was a Dutch actress and model born on September 28, 1952, in Utrecht, Netherlands. She became one of the world's most recognised faces after portraying the title character in the French erotic film Emmanuelle (1974), a role she would revisit in multiple sequels throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The Emmanuelle series became a global phenomenon, turning Kristel into an international star and icon of sensual cinema. She subsequently appeared in numerous European and Hollywood productions. She passed away on October 18, 2012, in Utrecht, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most unforgettable figures in the history of European cinema.