Emmanuelle Arsan
Encyclopedia
Emmanuelle Arsan, the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andriane, born in 1932 as Marayat Bibidh, is a French novelist of Eurasian
origin, most famous for creating the fictional character Emmanuelle
, a woman who engages in an exploration of her own sexuality
under varying circumstances.
Arsan was born in Bangkok
, Thailand. At the age of 16 she was married to a French diplomat at UNESCO
, Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, the couple had two daughters. The novel Emmanuelle was published and distributed clandestinely in France without an author's name in 1959. Successive editions later bore the moniker Emmanuelle Arsan, who was subsequently revealed to be Marayat Rollet-Andriane. Though the novel was sometimes hinted to be a quasi-autobiography, it was later revealed that the actual author was Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane. Several more novels were published under the Emmanuelle Arsan moniker.
Following the success of the film adaptation Emmanuelle in 1974, Arsan was the titular director and writer of the film Laure (1976) about the sexual discoveries of a younger "Emmanuelle" named Laure in yet another exotic setting. The film was actually directed by Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane and by Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli
, though Rollet-Andriane, reportedly frustrated with his collaboration with the producer Ovidio G. Assonitis, asked for the Emmanuelle Arsan name not to be associated to the project, resulting in the film being credited to an anonymous director.
She had also appeared on screen under the stage name Marayat Andriane in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles
and in the 1967 episode "Turn of a Card" of the U.S. series The Big Valley
. Her only other film appearance, credited as Emmanuelle Arsan, was in Laure, which was also released under the title Forever Emmanuelle.
Eurasian (mixed ancestry)
The word Eurasian refers to people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. It was originally coined in 19th-century British India to refer to Anglo-Indians of mixed British and Indian descent....
origin, most famous for creating the fictional character Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle is the lead character in a series of French softcore erotic movies based on a character created by Emmanuelle Arsan in the novel Emmanuelle...
, a woman who engages in an exploration of her own sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
under varying circumstances.
Arsan was born in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand. At the age of 16 she was married to a French diplomat at UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, the couple had two daughters. The novel Emmanuelle was published and distributed clandestinely in France without an author's name in 1959. Successive editions later bore the moniker Emmanuelle Arsan, who was subsequently revealed to be Marayat Rollet-Andriane. Though the novel was sometimes hinted to be a quasi-autobiography, it was later revealed that the actual author was Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane. Several more novels were published under the Emmanuelle Arsan moniker.
Following the success of the film adaptation Emmanuelle in 1974, Arsan was the titular director and writer of the film Laure (1976) about the sexual discoveries of a younger "Emmanuelle" named Laure in yet another exotic setting. The film was actually directed by Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane and by Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli
Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli
Roberto D’Ettorre Piazzoli is an Italian film producer and cinematographer who has worked frequently with Ovidio G. Assonitis.Born in Rome, Piazzoli began working for the Italian movie industry in the early 1960s as a cameraman, under the direction of Vittorio De Sica, Damiano Damiani, Marco...
, though Rollet-Andriane, reportedly frustrated with his collaboration with the producer Ovidio G. Assonitis, asked for the Emmanuelle Arsan name not to be associated to the project, resulting in the film being credited to an anonymous director.
She had also appeared on screen under the stage name Marayat Andriane in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles
The Sand Pebbles (film)
The Sand Pebbles is a 1966 American period war film directed by Robert Wise. It tells the story of an independent, rebellious U.S. Navy Machinist's Mate aboard the fictional gunboat USS San Pablo in 1920s China....
and in the 1967 episode "Turn of a Card" of the U.S. series The Big Valley
The Big Valley
The Big Valley is an American television Western which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969, which starred Barbara Stanwyck, as a California widowed mother. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman...
. Her only other film appearance, credited as Emmanuelle Arsan, was in Laure, which was also released under the title Forever Emmanuelle.