14 Revealing Facts About Sylvia Kristel

Sylvia Kristel was born on September 28, 1952, in Utrecht. Her father ran a cigarette shop, and her childhood was marked by her parents' early divorce. This would influence her relationships for the rest of her life.

Before becoming an actress, Kristel worked as a model. In 1973, she won the Miss TV Europe pageant, which gave her international recognition. That win opened the doors to the film world.

In 1974, she landed the lead role in the French erotic film Emmanuelle. The film became a worldwide box-office hit and turned Sylvia Kristel into a sex symbol. Despite the stigma surrounding eroticism, the film grossed millions and spawned multiple sequels.

Emmanuelle became not just a box-office hit, but also a symbol of sexual liberation in the 1970s. Kristel became the face of a new openness around sensuality, something that sparked both admiration and controversy.

After the success of Emmanuelle, Kristel landed roles in Hollywood and European productions. She appeared in Mata Hari (1985) and Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981), among others. Still, many roles remained limited to erotic or sensual characters, which sometimes frustrated her.

Kristel wasn't only cast in erotic productions. She also worked with renowned directors, such as Francois Truffaut in Love on the Run (1979). With that, she proved she could earn her place in serious cinema too.

Kristel had smoked since her teenage years and was notorious for her constant cigarette. She later admitted smoking severely damaged her health. She eventually developed lung cancer, which she died from in 2012.

Besides smoking, Kristel battled alcohol and cocaine addiction. In interviews, she admitted the pressure of fame and unhappy relationships drove her toward substance use. It cost her much of her earnings and negatively affected her career.

Sylvia Kristel had a tumultuous love life. She had relationships with well-known men such as novelist and thriller writer Hugo Claus (with whom she had a son), actor Ian McShane, and writer Gerard Reve. None of her relationships, however, brought lasting happiness.

From her relationship with Hugo Claus, her son Arthur was born in 1975. Their relationship fell apart, however, and Sylvia didn't get custody. This was one of the most painful episodes of her life, about which she later wrote candidly.

Despite her enormous success, Kristel had barely any money left by the end of her life. She lost much of it to addiction, bad investments, and unhappy relationships in which partners financially exploited her. She lived in relative poverty.

In 2006, her autobiography Naked was published. In it, she spoke honestly about her childhood, career, addictions, and relationships. The book received glowing reviews for the vulnerability and honesty with which she exposed herself.

In 2007, Kristel was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The disease later spread to her lungs and liver. Despite treatment, her health declined rapidly. On October 17, 2012, she died at age 60 in Amsterdam.

Kristel is remembered as one of the greatest Dutch film icons ever. Emmanuelle is still regarded as a milestone in film history. She is also admired for her courageous honesty in her autobiography.