Sylvia Christelle began her career as a model, but she was made world famous by her leading role in the provocative film Emmanuelle (1974). In her declining years, the film erotic star of the 70s could not answer the main question of her life: what did this role become for her, luck or curse?
Childhood and youth
Contrary to popular belief, Sylvia Christel is not French at all. She was born on September 28, 1952 in the small Dutch town of Utrecht. Sylvia's parents owned the hotel, devoted all their time to work and hardly ever raised their children. The girl was only nine years old when she was almost raped by the hotel administrator, which left an imprint on the fragile psyche of the child. Sylvia became uncontrollable, capable of all sorts of things.
Sylvia was sent to a Catholic boarding school, but they could not correct her complex character there. A few years later, after her parents divorced, she finally realized that no one needed, and firmly decided to become famous - at any cost. To begin with, Sylvia decided to participate in beauty contests and soon won the titles of "Miss Dutch Television" and "Miss European Television".
Creative career
Sylvia Christel played her first movie roles in 1973. And a year later she was invited to the main role by the debutant director Just Jacquin. All the actresses he turned to after reading the script flatly refused. Sylvia agreed. True, before each turning on the camera, she drank a glass of champagne in order to look more relaxed in explicit scenes, and on special occasions she even had to smoke marijuana.
At first, the film was banned, as too frank, but after the change of the ruling elite, "Emmanuel" was still released. Critics smashed the film to smithereens, but the audience, on the contrary, was delighted, lining up in front of cinemas in kilometer lines. Sylvia Christel became a superstar overnight. Intoxicated with success, she did not immediately realize that she had become a hostage to one single role. Subsequently, Sylvia starred in numerous sequels to "Emmanuel", the scandalous fame of this series of films did not fade until the 90s, and all other roles of the actress faded against this background. In her memoirs, Sylvia confessed: “The role that I dreamed about, like a springboard, bound me forever. My body has become more important than my words. I became an actress in silent films, stripped of everything that forms an individuality."
Personal life
The first husband of the actress was a children's writer from Belgium Hugo Klaus. In the upbringing of their son Arthur, she almost did not take part, as she was busy filming in the next "Emmanuel". Soon, Hugo filed for divorce, not wanting to endure his wife's numerous novels anymore. After his departure, the actress plunged headlong into promiscuous relationships, alcohol and drugs.
The second husband of the actress, Alan Turner, after six months of living together, followed the example of Hugo Klaus. Third husband, Hollywood actor Ian McShane, beat Sylvia during her pregnancy and she lost her baby. Her next husband, director Philippe Blo, wasted all her savings.
Among Sylvia's lovers, French President Valerie Giscard d'Estaing is best known.
The actress rarely saw her son, and they were never close. Only in 2003, when doctors diagnosed Sylvia with a fatal diagnosis, their relationship improved a little.
