Sylvia Kristel Dies at Age 60, World's Most Famous Dutch Actress 'Emmanuelle' Star

Sylvia Kristel died at age 60 on Wednesday (October 17) after suffering from liver cancer and throat cancer for several years. She is most famous for her role in the 1974 erotic film "Emmanuelle." When she took on the role, she never thought the movie would pass censorship.

"I was nervous, but then my boyfriend said: 'Who's going to watch this film? It will never pass censorship,'" she said in a past interview.

The film became a classic and over 350 million people worldwide has seen it.

Kristel's striking beauty caught the attention of French director Just Jaeckin while he was visiting the Netherlands.

"When I saw her face, I was thunderstruck,’’ he told the French ­magazine Le Nouvel Observateur.

The actress later moved to Hollywood and got caught in destructive drug and alcohol habits. Later in life, she moved back to Netherlands and began painting.

RIP Sylvia Kristel.