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| Emmanuelle | |
|---|---|
| Emmanuelle character | |
 Photo of Sylvia Kristel used to promote the 1974 film Emmanuelle | |
| First appearance | Emmanuelle (1967 novel) |
| Created by | Emmanuelle Arsan |
| Portrayed by |
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| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Spouse | Jean |
| Children | Diana, Emily, Eve-Ladah |
| Nationality | French |
Emmanuelle is the lead character in a series of French erotic films based on the protagonist in the novel of the same name, by Emmanuelle Arsan, written in 1959 and published in 1967.
Emmanuelle originated as the pen name Emmanuelle Arsan, used by Marayat Rollet-Andriane, a French-Thai actress who wrote a 1957 book, The Joys of a Woman, detailing the sexual exploits of a bored housewife. The first Emmanuelle film debuted in 1974 and starred Sylvia Kristel, who became synonymous with the role. The film embraced its X-rating and became a success, with an estimated audience of 300 million. It remains one of France's most successful films. The films' explicit content varied from softcore to full hardcore, though no penetration or oral sex made it to publicly available releases.
It spawned a film series with multiples sequels, and a video game. The original series consists of six theatrical films and seven made-for-television films, while a reboot is scheduled to be released in 2024. Emmanuelle was also the inspiration for several unrelated films and series, including the Italian series Black Emanuelle, or the American series Emmanuelle in Space, as well as many unofficial productions using the Emmanuelle name, capitalizing on the craze.