Laura Gemser
Laura Gemser | |
---|---|
Born |
Laurette Marcia Gemser October 5, 1950 Surabaya, Indonesia |
Other names |
Emanuelle Moira Chen |
Citizenship |
Dutch Italian |
Occupation | Actress, model, costume designer |
Years active | 1974–1993 |
Spouse(s) | Gabriele Tinti (1976–1991; his death) |
Laurette Marcia "Laura" Gemser (born October 5, 1950, Surabaya) is a retired Indonesian-Dutch actress, model and costume designer.[1] She is primarily known for her work in Italian erotic cinema, most notably the Black Emanuelle series. Many of her films were collaborations with directors Joe D'Amato and Bruno Mattei.[1]
Gemser has also been credited as Moira Chen, most notably in Love Is Forever (1983).
Life and career
Gemser left Indonesia in 1955, at the age of four, and moved with her parents to the Netherlands.[2] She grew up in the Dutch city of Utrecht, where she attended the MULO Regentesseschool high school. After that, she attended the Artibus Art School in Utrecht, where she specialized in fashion design.[2]
After modelling in various magazines in the Netherlands and Belgium, in 1974 she moved to Italy to star in the erotic film Amore libero - Free Love.[3] The film was a box office success and launched the career of Gemser, who later became internationally recognised after starring in a number of Black Emanuelle films in the 1970s.[2][3]
Her most mainstream and well-received role was as Laotian actress Keo Sirisomphone in Michael Landon's 1983 American television movie, Love is Forever, in which she was credited as Moira Chen. Gemser continued to do films, at times working with her actor husband, Gabriele Tinti. In the 1990s, she left the movies to do costume designing for film. In addition, she lost her husband, who died of cancer in 1991. Today she lives in retirement and low profile in Rome.
Filmography
- Amore libero - Free Love (1974) ... as Janine (credited as Emanuelle)
- Emmanuelle 2 (1975) ... as Masseuse
- Black Emanuelle (1975) ... as Mae Jordan/Emanuelle (credited as Emanuelle)
- Emanuelle in Bangkok (1976)... as Emanuelle
- Voyage of the Damned (1976) ... as Estedes' friend (uncredited)
- Voto di castità (1976) ... as Maid
- Black Cobra Woman (1976) ... as Eva
- Emmanuelle on Taboo Island (1976) ... as Haydee
- Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle (1976) ... as Laura
- Emanuelle in America (1977) ... as Emanuelle
- Suor Emanuelle (1977) ... as Emanuelle
- Emanuelle Around the World (1977) ... as Emanuelle
- Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals (1977) ... as Emanuelle
- I due superpiedi quasi piatti (1977) aka Crime Busters (US) ... as Susy Lee
- Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade (1978) ... Emanuelle
- Voglia di donna (1978) ... Princess
- Exit 7 (1978) ... Air-hostess
- El Periscopio (1979) aka Malizia erotica (Italy) ... as Amiga de Verónica
- Emanuelle's Daughter (1980) aka Emanuelle's Sweet Revenge and Emanuelle: Queen Bitch ... as Emanuella
- Erotic Nights of the Living Dead (1980) ... as Luna
- Love Camp (1981) ... as The Divine One
- The Bushido Blade (1981) ... as Tomoe
- Caligula II: The Untold Story (1982) aka Caligola: La Storia Mai Raccontata; Caligula: The Untold Story ... as Miriam
- La Belva dalla calda pelle (1982) ... as Emanuelle
- Violence in a Women's Prison (1982) ... as Emanuelle/Laura Kendall
- Invaders of the Lost Gold (1982) ... as Maria
- Endgame – Bronx lotta finale (1983) ... as Lilith (credited as Moira Chen)
- Ator, The Fighting Eagle (1982) ... as Indun
- Déchaînement pervers de Manuela (1983) ... as Manuela/Emanuelle
- Emanuelle Escapes from Hell (1983) ... as Emanuelle
- Love is Forever (1983) ... as Keo Sirisomphone (credited as Moira Chen)
- L'Alcova (1984) ... as Zerbal
- Skipper – Colpo Imperfetto (1984) ...
- Il Piacere (1985) ... as Haunani
- Voglia di guardare (1986) ... as Josephine
- Riflessi di luce (1988) ... as Diana
- Top Model (1988) ... aka Eleven Days, Eleven Nights, Part 2: The Sequel as Dorothy/Eve
- Undici giorni, undici notti 2 (1990) aka Eleven Days, Eleven Nights 2; 11 Days, 11 Nights 2 ... as Jackie Forrest
- Quest for the Mighty Sword (1990) ... as Grimilde
- Metamorphosis (1990) ... as Prostitute
- Una Tenera storia (1992) ... as Karen's secretary (uncredited)
Costume designer credits
- Top Model (1988 film)
- Amore sporco (1988)
- La Stanza della parole (1990)
- Troll 3 (Contamination .7) (1990)
- La Casa (1990)
- Metamorphosis (1990)
- Troll 2 (1990)
- Hot steps – passi caldi (1990)
- Ritorno dalla morte (1991)
- La Donna di una sera (1991)
- Door to Silence (1991)
References
- 1 2 "Laura Gemser". The New York Times.
- 1 2 3 Article on Laura Gemser in Leeuwarder Courant, February 5, 1977
- 1 2 Gordiano Lupi, Laura Gemser e le altre. Edizioni Profondo Rosso, 2011. pp. 18–19.
External links
- Laura Gemser at the Internet Movie Database
- Laura Gemser at AllMovie
- Laura Gemser Biography
- The New York Times – Laura Gemser