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Sylvia Kristel

A sensual Dutch actress, Sylvia Kristel became a global star after portraying the sexual adventurer "Emmanuelle" (1974). Achieving unprecedented mainstream success for a soft-core project, the actress, the film, as well as even the name itself, became pop cultural shorthand for a certain romantic, European style of erotica. Kristel went on to appear in "Emmanuelle" sequels in 1975, 1977, 1984 and 1993, as well as in multiple made-for-TV installments of the long-running franchise. She poked fun at her lusty image with roles in "The Nude Bomb" (1980), "Private School" (1983) and "Mata Hari" (1985) and scored a mainstream Hollywood hit as the maid who initiates a lucky teenage boy into the mysteries of sex in the hit "Private Lessons" (1981). Romantically linked to actor Ian McShane for a time and having battled a cocaine addiction, Kristel was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and died of complications on Oct. 17, 2012. Considered by many to be one of the silver screen's most captivating love goddesses, Sylvia Kristel earned her own unique place in the immortal pop culture pantheon.