Sylvia Kristel, the Dutch actress best remembered for her role in the 1974 erotic film "Emmanuelle," passed away on October 18, 2012 at the age of 60. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands in 1952, Kristel’s show business career took off in the mid-1970s when she appeared in the blockbuster film “Emmanuelle”. Her performance garnered worldwide attention and made her an international celebrity. After that, she starred in a successful string of Emmanuelle sequels as well as other films and television shows, including the James Bond spoof "The New Avengers" and the French comedy "Blanche et Marie". In addition to her successful acting career, Kristel was also active in politics and often expressed her support for the environment and animal rights. She even appeared in a 2007 musical adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac” directed by the former French Prime Minister, Alain Juppé. Kristel was preceded in death by her husband, and is survived by her son.