Laura Gemser

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Laura Gemser (born October 5, 1950, Java, Indonesia) is an actress of Indo descent. She is known for her work with director Joe D'Amato. She is sometimes credited as Moira Chen, Laura M. Gemser or Laurette Marcia Gemser. She achieved success as Emanuelle and has starred in the Voyage of the Damned with Orson Welles and James Mason.

Gemser left Indonesia in 1955, at the age of four, and moved with her parents to the Netherlands. ^[1] She grew up in the Dutch city of Utrecht, where she attended the MULO Regentesseschool, a high school situated in the Hamburgerstraat. ^[2] After that, she attended the Artibus Art School in Utrecht, where she specialized in fashion design. ^[3] In 1975 she moved to Italy.^[4]

After modelling in various magazines in the Netherlands and Belgium, Gemser began to take part in some soft erotic films. She became internationally recognised after starring in a number of Black Emanuelle films in the 1970s. These films were especially popular as late night fare on the Cinemax cable channel in the USA.^{[citation needed]} Although she appeared in numerous hardcore titles, she always had simulated sex.^{[citation needed]} The "notorious" scenes in Black Emanuelle are hardcore inserts,^{[citation needed]} although the version of that film aired on cable has edited out the majority of such scenes.

Most of her films were directed by Joe D'Amato, and they are now regarded as samples of the Italian erotic/horror cult films.^{[citation needed]} Some of her films are Emmanuelle 2 (1975), Black Emanuelle (1975), Eva nera (1976), Emanuelle in America (1976) and Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals (1977), and Caligola: la Storia mai raccontata (1981).

After more than a decade as a sex symbol, Gemser turned to costume design for mainstream film (although she continued taking small roles).^{[citation needed]} Among others, Gemser provided costume design and coordination for the 1990 film Troll 2.

Late 1976 she married the actor Gabriele Tinti. ^[5] They appeared together in about two dozen movies.^{[citation needed]} Gemser retired from acting after his sudden death in 1991.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Selected filmography

Laura Gemser in Nackte Eva / Eva Nera / Black Cobra starring Jack Palance, in (1976)

A Turkish film poster featuring Laura Gemser

Emmanuelle 2 (1975) ... as Masseuse
Emanuelle nera orient reportage (1976) ... as Emanuelle
Emanuelle in America (1977) ... as Emanuelle
Suor Emanuelle (1977) ... as Emanuelle
Emanuelle - perché violenza alle donne? (1977) ... as Emanuelle
Emanuelle e gli ultimi cannibali (1977) ... as Emanuelle
La Via della prostituzione (1978) ... Emanuelle
Mavri Emmanouella (1979) ... as Black Emmanouella/Emanuelle Brindisi/Victor's wife/Livia's stepmother
Die Todesgöttin des Liebescamps (1981) ... as The Divine One
The Bushido Blade (1981) ... as Maria
La Belva dalla calda pelle (1982) ... as Emanuelle
Violenza in un carcere femminile (1982) ... as Emanuelle/Laura Kendall
Horror Safari (1982) ... as Maria
Endgame - Bronx lotta finale (1983) ... as Lilith
Déchaînement pervers de Manuela (1983) ... as Manuela/Emanuelle
Emanuelle fuga dall'inferno (1983) ... as Emanuelle
L'Alcova (1984) ... as Zerbal
Il Piacere (1985) ... as Haunani
Voglia di guardare (1986)
Riflessi di luce (1988) ... as Diana
Top Model (1988) ... as Dorothy/Eve
Undici giorni, undici notti 2 (1990) ... as Jackie Forrest
Quest for the Mighty Sword ... as Grimilde
Metamorphosis (1990) ... prostitute
Una Tenera storia (1992)