Emanuelle star Kristel dies

Actress Sylvia Kristel, the Dutch star of the hit 1970s erotic film Emmanuelle, has died of cancer aged 60.

Her agent, Features Creative Management, said in a statement that Kristel died in her sleep last night.

Kristel, a model who turned to acting in the 1970s, had been fighting cancer for several years.

Her breakthrough came in Emmanuelle, an erotic tale directed by Frenchman Just Jaeckin, about the sexual adventures of a man and his beautiful young wife, played by Kristel, in Thailand.

She went on to star in several sequels to Emmanuelle, as well as in Hollywood films including Private Lessons in 1981.