Interview With Seka

When you think about it, adult stars come a dime a dozen. There is an endless sea of women who drift in and out of the adult business never to be heard from again. Most of them come along to make a quick buck, not giving much thought into what they are doing. They disappear just as quickly as they came never to be heard from again.

There are a few who come along who turn the entire industry on it’s head. Women who become superstars and achieve a level of fame not often achieved by a porn star. What makes these women different from the average run-of-the-mill starlet? What is it that they have that the others do not?

Women who reach the upper echelon of porn greatness all have a few things in common with one another. First and foremost, they are beautiful creatures, with an appeal that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. There is just something about them, that you just cannot put your finger on, that adds to their attractiveness. They also have to have a little luck, and come into the business at the right time and place. But most of all they are all enthusiastic about what they do. They are painfully aware of their sexual power, and use it to light-up the screen with powerful performances, and instantly capture the desire of multitudes of men.

You can literally count the number of women who reach the very top of the porn business on your fingers. You have your Annettes, your Gingers, your Jennas and then you have Seka. One of a kind, Seka was one of the first superstars of adult cinema. Like a blond sex bomb she burst upon the scene and was an instant star. She passionately performed for several years and enjoyed a longevity that few women in the adult entertainment industry achieve.

I recently contacted her, and she agreed to be interviewed. I was completely surprised how easy she was to contact and how willing she was to participate. She is a very gracious and down-to-earth person and it has been an absolute honor to interview her.

Where were you born?

Seka: Radford Virginia

Where did you grow up?

Seka: Virginia

What was your family life like, your parents, siblings, how would you describe your family?

Seka: 1 brother 1 sister, both older; I’m the baby. Pretty normal I guess. Parents divorced when I was young. I am still close with nearly everyone in my family.

What was your earliest sexual experience? At what age did you lose your virginity?

Seka: April 22,1972, the day after I got married the first time.

I read that you were a beauty queen in high school and during your early adult life. What are some of the pageants you won?

Seka: Miss Hopewell High School and Miss South-side Virginia.

What other jobs did you have before getting involved in adult entertainment?

Seka: Factory worker, waitress, shoe sales person, bartender…

Did you go to college?

Seka: Yes, Northwestern in Chicago

I read that you were once a co-owner of a few adult bookstores before you became involved in the adult film business. How did you get involved with the owning a bookstore and was that something you enjoyed?

Seka: I was dating a person who owned one and then as time went on we bought several more of them and yes I did enjoy the stores very much.

When did you first become involved in the adult film industry?

Seka: It was in the late 70’s.

When did you start using the name “Seka” and what does it mean?

Seka: The first movie I did I was asked what name I wanted to use and I said ” I don’t know use “SEKA” What I have been told it means is “LITTLE GIRL”

You performed with some of the best known studs of the 70’s and 80’s. I’m going to throw out a couple of men that you performed with and I want you to give me your impression of them. Randy West, John Leslie, Jamie Gillis, and Ron Jeremy.

Seka: They were, and still to this day, some of the most wonderful men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing or being with.

You also performed with the “King” John Holmes. In fact, it appears that you may have performed with him more than any other woman, and according to your IAFD page, you did more scenes with John than any other man during your career. How close were you with John in your personal life? Were the two of you ever romantically involved off-screen? How was he as a performer? A person?

Seka: I loved John and will always love John. We were never lovers off screen. John was always a perfect gentleman with me as a performer and as a person.

I read somewhere that you spent a year in rehab in the late 70’s. Is this correct?

Seka: I was never in rehab for anything ever. I never did see drugs on the movies I worked on so I can not answer this question for you.

I was also surprised to learn that you actually spent some time in jail in San Diego during the early 80’s. What lead to that ordeal? What were you arrested for? Were you actually sentenced to a prison term, or just arrested?

Seka: I spent 12 hours in the Women San Diego Prison for lewd dancing and obscene conduct.
I was never convicted as it was a case of they just wanted to try to make an example of someone and it turned out that I was not the one.

Your IAFD page says that you actually directed two titles. Was directing something that you enjoyed? Why did you not pursue more directing jobs?

Seka: I enjoyed it very much though it is very stressful and I just wanted to give it a try.

You stayed active in adult film from the late 70’s through the early 90’s, which is an eternity in adult film. You started at 24 years old which is the age most girls retire from the business. You actually retired at about 40 which is just way beyond when most girls give it up. Despite your age, you were in high demand throughout your career. Why did you give it up? What made you quit the film business? Could you have kept going?

Seka: I am sure I could have kept going but I am in love with living and there were no demands being made for testing in those days so I stopped.

The adult film business has changed a lot since your heyday. Do you think has changed for the better or worse? What do you think is lacking in today’s porn movies?

Seka: I don’t fell it has changed for the better. It seems to me that most everyone looks the same these days, there is no romance any more or at least a reason for sex to happen in the first place. It seems to me that that there is so much ANGER in today’s Adult Movies and for me at least SEX and that kind of ANGER do not mix.

What have you been up to all these years after you left the adult film business? Where have you lived? What have you been through? Tell us about things you have been involved in. Your fan club, websites, personal life… etc…

Seka: For the most part I have been working on www.seka.com and my life.

I remember reading that you performed in a hardcore scene a few years ago and that it is available on the Internet. Where can your fans go to see the scene?

Seka: On my site www.seka.com under the VOD banner that says ” clips.com “

What was it like to perform in a sex scene after all the years away from adult film?

Seka: I didn’t miss a beat. LOL

Describe the scene, what can your fans expect to see watching you perform hardcore at over 50?

Seka: The only difference I saw was that I had a hell of a lot more fun, there was no pressure.

Was it just the one scene, or have you done more? If not do you plan on doing any more?

Seka: There were several scenes, go and watch.

Did you ever have any children over the years?

Seka: No, I never wanted children.

It’s surprising to learn that you never really left the adult business. You pretty much stayed active with your fan club, dancing and websites, etc. Do you have any plans of ever retiring completely?

Seka: No.

Are you currently romantically involved with anyone? Married? Dating? Single?

Seka: Married.

Do you enjoy interaction with your fans? Have you ever dated any of your fans? What is the best way that your fans can contact you?

Seka: Yes I enjoy interacting with my fans, never dated my fans. and the best way to reach me is through www.seka.com .

Any chance you would ever hookup with a younger fan, say by about 20 years, who runs a website about retired porn stars?

Seka: No, I’m married and I take that very seriously.

That was a joke… I guess it does not hurt to ask

Seka is still a hot, sexy, smokin' lady

Is there anything else in your life that you would like to mention that I did not cover? Anything you would like to say to your fans?

Seka: Thank each and every one of my fans from the bottom of my heart, with out all of you I would not be who I am today and I owe that to my fans. They were and to this day the BEST FANS a girl could ever have.

Thank you very much for your time, and I would love to do another interview sometime in the future when there are new things to talk about. Please stay in touch.

Seka: Well hopefully that will be very soon. You see I have a book coming out …
The title is “Inside Seka” just like the movie and as a matter of fact it will have the same cover on the book as the movie has.

I will get in touch with you when the book comes out to discuss it.

Inside Seka box cover

An Interview With Tiffany Towers

Here is the text from an interview I did with Tiffany Towers through her MySpace account.

Big thanks to Tiffany for her time!

You were born in Toronto Canada according to several sources, is this where you grew up as well?

TT: Yes

What was your childhood and early family life like?

TT: Difficult but we are very close now

Do you have any siblings?

TT: Yes I have 2 younger brothers

Looking back, were there any things in your childhood that influenced your decision to become an adult performer?

TT: Probably…..

Where did you go to High School?

TT: I went to several before dropping out

What was your first sexual encounter?

14

How old were you when you lost your virginity?

14

What is your natural breast size?

TT: Before any surgical procedures. D

Your Wikipedia entry says that you started out as a dancer and then moved on to men’s magazines. What was your first job as a dancer and how was that experience?

TT: I was a table dancer for 5 bucks a dance and they were good times, I was 17

What are some of the magazines that you posed for early in your career? How did posing for men make you feel? Do you consider yourself an exhibitionist.

TT: I think Gent was my first mag I posed for and at 18 it was very exciting

When did you have your first breast enlargement surgery?

TT: Probably just after I turned 18

What is the largest breast size you ever carried?

TT: Tripe HHH

You have had breast reduction surgery in recent years. Why did you reduce the size? Were they becoming burdensome?

TT: Yes they were, very difficult to find clothes and it really wasn’t me, plus one burst…

Do you have a large-tit fetish or were the surgeries something you did to please a lover, or were they done to help your career by appealing to a certain genre of porn?

TT: I was young and foolish…

How did you become involved in adult films? What industry insiders did you meet? How did you meet them?

TT: I really don’t know it just went hand in hand with the job

Did you enjoy having sex with men on film? Any particular scenes that you enjoyed? Any particular performers you enjoyed working with?

TT: I did in the beginning, but I didn’t like the way I was treated for the most part and I really don’t remember any men that stand out, would have liked to work with Rocco

What was the most challenging scene you ever shot?

TT: Probably Tommyknockers only movie with a real script and had to memorize lines….

Did you ever perform on film with more than one guy at once? If so how was that experience?

No

I myself have never seen any scenes where you did anal? Did you perform anal and if so what are some of the films?

TT: I unfortunately did in my last movie with Seymore Butts but I regret giving it to his company

Any crazy or horror stories from you involvement in the adult industry?

TT: No

Have you ever been involved in any real-life gang bangs, group sex, or swinging, off camera?

TT: Yes

You also preformed with women on film, in life are you bisexual or were the scenes something you just had to do?

TT: I love cock….

You have left the adult industry more than once, are you currently retired? and if so, do you have any plans on returning to adult films?

TT: I am retired and have no plans to return

In 2005 you were in Faster Pussycat, Fuck! Fuck!, which won an AVN-award. What type of scene did you do for that movie, who did you perform with, and what was it like to perform after such a hiatus?

TT: It was o.k. I did a girl-boy and girl- girl..was not the highlight of my life….

Do you keep in touch with any friends from the adult business?

TT: No

Many sources report that you are currently a dancer in Toronto. Are you still dancing, and if so what club?

TT: No I am in Thailand working with animals and teaching

Do you enjoy meeting your fans and are you available for any private sessions?

TT: Yes

Your MySpace says you are currently single. Have you ever been married, if so how many times? If not, what are some of the long-term relationships that you have had that you consider important in your life?

TT: All my long term relationships were important

You volunteer at several animal shelters around Toronto. How important are animals in your life? Do you have any plans for a career path in this field?

TT: I would love to be able to just make money from helping animals unfortunately it’s not really possible, animals mean everything to me..

I noticed that you are planning a trip to Thailand to work with animals. What type of work will you be doing and is there any way that your fans can donate or assist with the expenses of the trip.

TT: Yes anybody can donate on paypal to tiffanytowers@hotmail.com

Is there anything you would like to plug? Sites, upcoming movies or events?

TT: Just want to wish everybody well!!

.

Holly Randall Interview, A Legend In Her Own Right

I recently contacted Holly Randall the daughter of legendary photographer Suze Randall. In recent years Holly has built an impressive portfolio of her own, doing photo shoots for several of the major men’s magazines and starting her own photography company. Here is the interview:

Where and when were you born?

I was born in Hollywood, California in September of 1978.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Los Angeles, on the West side.

What was your early childhood like, what are your earliest memories?

I rode horses a lot—that was pretty much my life. My earliest memories are almost all about horses. I was a fairly solitary kid—I was shy, and didn’t have a lot of friends. I mostly read books, rode my horse, and played by myself.

What was your family life like? Do you have any siblings?

Family life was good—I have a younger brother and a sister. My parents never fought, we always ate dinner together, and went on family vacations a lot. I was fortunate to have a good childhood.

Describe yourself as a child.

I was awkward, geeky, and very shy. I liked boys a lot but the feelings weren’t reciprocated. I was smart, and my reading comprehension was extraordinarily high. In fact, I skipped first grade because I was so far ahead of all of my classmates, and the teachers made the mistake of thinking I was some kind of child prodigy. In retrospect, it wasn’t the best idea, since socially I had an even harder time adjusting, but my parents were new and when someone tells you your kid is brilliant, of course you believe them. Though I always did well in school, I was certainly no genius.

Where did you go to high school?

Calabasas High.

How old were you when you first learned of your mother’s profession? How did you feel when you first found out what she does for a living? Did it effect you in any way knowing that our mother was an erotic photographer?

Everyone asks me this question, and I always have the same boring answer—there was no one moment when I suddenly “knew”. My parents didn’t ever hide their profession from me, though they also didn’t try to expose it to me. I knew they did “adult stuff” and I was too young to look at my mom’s photographs. At first I didn’t really care, because I was too young and wrapped up in my little world of unicorns and rainbows. But as I began to reach puberty, my curiosity peaked and I started sneaking into the office (which was actually our guest house, across the yard), to steal magazines.

Do you feel that you were exposed to things as a child because of your mother’s work? Did her work effect your sexual development as an adolescent? Do you feel that you grew up faster than other children?

Yes I was definitely exposed to things I should not have been as a child. Keep in mind this is no fault of my parents’, since they kept me locked out of the office, but kids have a way of sneaking around and getting at what they want. I was fascinated by sex as a child, but I didn’t act out on it—boys frightened me a little, so I was never romantically involved with anyone until I was older.

You rode horses competitively for many years. Tell us more about that, and some of your achievements. Do you still ride horses?

I got my first horse at the age of seven, but I’d been riding horses since before I could walk. It consumed my life—I had to give up any extracurricular activities I would take up, because they’d interfere with the rigorous equine schedule my mother had set me up with. I grew to resent the sport because of it, and at the age of 17, when I won the Preliminary Championships, I quit. I don’t ride horses anymore, because I was so suffocated with the sport as a child. I’ve lost all interest in them.

Where did you go to college? What did you study? Did you graduate?

I went to a few colleges—mainly Brooks Institute of Photography, and UCLA. I didn’t graduate from Brooks because I didn’t like it there, and my parents begged me to move home from Santa Barbara (where the college is located) and help them out with the website. It was after that move that I pursued a literature degree from UCLA, and I received that in 2003.

How did you first get into photography? Was it your mother got you involved?

Actually no, my mother didn’t get me involved. I had an extra class to fill when I was in junior high, so I elected to take a photography class. I fell in love instantly, and it’s been my passion ever since. I decided to follow in my mother’s footsteps about 6 months after I started working for her—at the time I was just doing office work, copyright enforcement, mainly (this was at the very beginning of our website launch). It wasn’t a conscious decision—I started shooting sets on some models whose websites we were running: Aimee Sweet and Alexus Winston. I’d befriended them so it was a slow, easy start. Then it just snowballed from there, and the next thing you know, 10 years have gone by and I’m set to take over running the company.

What are some of the publications you have shot for?

I’ve shot for Penthouse, Hustler, Playgirl, High Society, Club, Cheri, Genesis, to name a few.

Describe you relationship with your mother as a child, a teenager and now as a young adult.

My relationship with my mother was great as a child, though at times I did resent her for the whole horses-were-my-life kind of thing. As a teenager, it was a difficult as it normally is when your hormones are raging and you’re a total brat. As a young adult it was great, until my drinking problem really began to spin out of control, and then I was angry at her and everyone else who was worried about me and tried to make me stop. Now, at a year’s sobriety, it’s better than it’s ever been. She’s truly the best mom I could ask for.

You mother is a legend in the business. Now that you are a photographer, how do you feel about being compared to your mother? Do you feel pressure to live up to her level of success?

Sometimes I feel the pressure, sure. And yes, I’m often compared to her, and not always favorably (in my case). But the business is much different these days then it was in her heyday, so there are many more elements to running this business these days. I’m comfortable with who I am and the level of my work, so I don’t feel “less-than”, as some may think I would.

Being around beautiful women since you were a child and now shooting them, do you find yourself attracted to women? Have you ever had any sexual experiences with women? If not would you ever do so?

No, sad to say I’m 100% heterosexual. I’ve only been with women twice, and in both cases there was another man involved, and in both cases I was really drunk. As much as I admire the female form and think they’re beautiful, I’m not sexually attracted to them at all.

How would you describe yourself sexually? Does your own sexuality play out in your work? Do you find yourself expressing your own fantasies through your work?

I’m a pretty kinky girl, but you wouldn’t know it because I come off as really innocent. I really enjoy S&M (as a submissive), but I’m particular about who I sleep with, and most guys aren’t into that. So in that sense, I do enjoy shooting fetish, and it’s fun to actually personalize the shoot.

You do a lot of work for Suze.net which is your mother’s site. Do you think that you will eventually completely control the site and her legacy? Does your mother have any plans for retiring from being a photographer?

Yes on both questions—the idea is that when she retires (which will probably be never, haha) I take over control of the company. She’s already stepped back a great deal—I do almost all the shooting now.

You also run HollyRandall.com, how does your work differ from your mother’s? Do you find it difficult to differentiate your own work from hers.

Well Hollyrandall.com is just a free site, a kind of feeder into Suze.net. Yes our work is very similar for obvious reasons, but I prefer a more modern twist, and I enjoy shooting fetish more.

Are you currently involved with anyone?

No. I’m single 90% of the time because (as I’ve been told), I have commitment issues. I prefer to believe that I simply haven’t found the right guy, and I’m incapable of settling.

What are some of your long-termed goals both professionally and personally? Do you plan on getting married? Having children?

I do want to get married, and have children. Very much so. But I’ve not yet dated any man I would want to spend the rest of my life with, or have as the father of my children.

Are there any other projects or upcoming things you would like to tell your fans about or anything you would like to add?

I am currently working on a photo book, which I hope will be released by the end of this year. Besides that, I do have some projects in the works, but I don’t like to talk about them unless it’s a sure thing.

Big thanks to Holly for doing this interview. My impression of Holly is that she is a very talented and intelligent young woman who has a lot to look forward to in life. Look for big things from her in the future.

http://www.hollyrandall.com/

http://www.suze.net/

An Interview with Julie Winchester a.k.a Gina Carrera

I recently caught up with Gina Carrera after a reader requested information about her. I found that she is now going by Julie Winchester, which is her real name, and runs her own website JulieWinchester.com . Julie, always known for her athletic build, still has it going on these days and I would highly recommend her site to any serious fan. Julie was gracious enough to answer all of my questions and I really appreciate her willingness to be interviewed.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, I only stayed there a short time until my mother took my sister and I and got out of Texas and took us to Oregon, and from there Arizona, so of course I grew up a little in all these places, eventually we moved to LA and I felt like this was the place I really belonged so much excitement and glamour etc. I was about 13 when I first got my taste of LA, we stayed for several years

What was your early childhood like?

My early childhood consisted of lots of chaos and moving around my mother always on the hunt for the right husband (she finally found him, THANK GOD)

When did you lose your virginity? Who was it with?

I lost my virginity at 16, I had done the usual fooling around before that but I had met this older guy at an under age club and I thought he should be the one, It wasn’t anything special, I remember he was missing a finger, I know this isn’t relevant but since I’m taking a walk down memory lane it’s all coming back, the funny part is he has turned out to be a VERY well known plastic surgeon here in Los Angeles I’ve seen him on many TV shows

Did you hold any other jobs before your career as an adult entertainer?

I dropped out of high school in my sophomore year I was told if I was going to do that I would have to get a job, I did, I worked at a cleaners, fast food places an apt operator, a lot of small time stuff.

How did you first become involved with adult entertainment?

I met a guy I really liked and moved in with him, he lived on the beach in Santa Monica CA. He was my boss at a copy place I was working, I quit and he took care of me for awhile, I got restless I mean, how many days can you go to the beach and that’s all.. He had several men’s magazines in his closet and while he was at work I would look at them and get very excited, I loved the pictures I loved how they made me feel, I loved how wet they made me when I would look at them, it was a turning point in my life for sure!! I got a local newspaper and found an ad for nude models wanted, I called the guy he came out to our apt. took several pictures and submitted me for many jobs, I got most of them, that photographer became a very good friend of mine and I eventually left my boyfriend and moved in with him, it wasn’t a love thing but we did fool around sexually, I wouldn’t let him fuck me but he would masturbate me all the time!!

So did the second guy get you into the film business as well?

I got sick of him, and found World modeling Agency, booked many more jobs, men’s magazines mostly at that time I wasn’t interested in doing Porn, I had been shot too many times and there wasn’t that much print work I hadn’t done. I got used to having a lot of cash and Jim South the top porn agent then, and now I believe, asked if I would be willing to do something called a loop, I struggled big time but decided to do it, it was brutal for me, but I got through it I felt very sleazy, once the word got out I got offered several starring roles and began to really make a name for myself, and I got a lot more comfortable with my sexuality and being in front of the camera.

What was the first porn film you appeared in?

Stiff competition was my first starring role.

How many films did you appear in?

I probably made close to 100 movies, a lot of just scenes in most of them.

Have you ever watched yourself?

I had never viewed my own movies until years later, I get a kick out of watching them sometimes, I did some really silly roles, some hot and some not!!

How long were you active in the adult film business?

Despite what some might say my career was only about 2 years long in porn.

Why did you leave the porn industry?

I left porn because I met someone that I fell in love with and he would have no part of that part of my life. I was more than happy to leave porn behind.

What did you do after you left the industry?

I began to strip at bachelor parties and made a lot of cash doing that as well.

You have also been involved with female wrestling. How did you get involved with that?

I started the wrestling at the same time, the lady that owned the company I worked for called ” BODY LANGUAGE” also wanted to start a female wrestling company we did and today she owns and operates Double Trouble Productions, who I still work for to this day.

You did a lot of fetish stuff after leaving the industry as well. Tell us about that.

All of the other fetish stuff I was doing in the meantime, lots of bondage, foot fetish, tickling, peeing, pussy fighting, yes I said pussy fighting. You name it I’ve probably done it. I really enjoy most of the fetish work I do it’s a lot more creative than just fucking.

You offer a lot of different services on your website. What are some of the things you offer to your fans?
I do do private sessions as well as custom videos for my fans. I do have a site to view for free juliewinchester.com (my real name), and I’m working on building ginacarrera.com, where you can see all my work, fetish, single masturbation, and some guy girl interaction, trust me there’s lots to have fun with, this should be up and running by next month early April.

So in a sense you never really quit doing porn? How much longer do you plan on entertaining?

I’ve never left the adult business just mixed things up a lot and I’ve enjoyed every minute and hope to be around it for a couple of more years at least.

How old are you now and how do you keep in such great shape?

I am 44, I work out everyday and live a healthy lifestyle.

Still sexy at 44?

I’m still a very sexual woman and I always will be, but now it’s on my terms not some director’s.

What would you like to say to your fans?

I hope that you will visit me on my sites and let me know if you’d like to work with me (or) play, it’s been fun visiting the past and I hope that you have learned a little more about me, and most of all Thank you for being fans, I forgot to mention I did have a short stint in music, and made a CD that I’m very proud of , you can check that out on my site as well, Much Love!! Julie Winchester, AKA (Gina Carrera)

An Interview With Celeste

I was able to make contact with Celeste through messages that she left on a post I did about her back in October of 2007. She sent me her email address and we quickly corresponded. I was surprised to learn that Celeste is now the proud mother of four and is living a quiet lifestyle with her husband and children in Nevada. Celeste is so sweet and I really appreciate her taking the time to answer my questions.

Celeste also sent me pictures of her most recent wedding to prove her identity and I can say that there is no question that the pictures are authentic and were taken after she left the adult business. I have not posted the pictures only because she did not explicitly say it was OK to do so. I have sent a follow up message asking her if she minds if I post one of the pictures.

Let me just say that Celeste is still just as gorgeous 10 years later. She has not aged at all, although she appears more wholesome than the sex vixen we all fell in love with back in the 90’s.

With that said, here is the interview:

NW: Where and when were you born?
Celeste: I was born in Stillwater, MN. May 3, 1972

NW: Where did you grow up?
Celeste: I grew up in beautiful Stillwater, MN.

NW: Describe your early childhood. What was your family like? Did you have any siblings? Would you consider your childhood normal? What were your interests, activities or hobbies?
Celeste: I was pretty shy and quiet as a child. I loved playing with my Barbies and pretending to be a schoolteacher. In the summer, you would find me swimming every day. In the winter, I liked ice-skating, sledding, and ice fishing with my dad. When asked what my favorite color was, I would pick some obscure one that no one else liked because I felt bad for it (the color). When I was in elementary school, I would walk to the local Lutheran church to take communion classes completely on my own. I was always trying to connect with God and understand him. I have two older brothers (my parents each had a son before they got married and had me). I was always begging my brother to play games and trying to hang out with him and his friends, a typical pest of a little sister. My parents did the best that they could when I was growing up.

NW: Was your family religious? If so what religion … what denomination?
Celeste: My family was Lutheran and when I was in about fifth grade, I started going to a Baptist church, joining the youth group. I share this because the combination of being violated and religion caused a great deal of shame and guilt for me. I have always been a seeker and searched to feed my soul .

NW: What was your first sexual encounter? Who was it with? How did you feel about your first sexual encounter?
Celeste: Like some of the other girls in the business, there was an adult who violated my innocence at a pretty young age. I think when that happens, you either go frigid or experimental. We all know which way I choose, but I’m thankful that I didn’t allow that person to cause me to become uncomfortable with further sexual encounters.

NW: How old were you when you lost your virginity? Who was it with? Where did it happen?
Celeste: I lost my virginity in junior high to a guy who sang “Stairway to Heaven” for the talent show. It was in a tent and lasted for about two minutes… not very exciting, to say the least. Afterward, we were shown a ”Why Wait” video in school. The visual aid they showed explained that each time you are with a person, you give a piece of your heart away. If a person did this enough, by the time they got married, they’d have nothing left to give. This stuck in my mind and haunted me. Probably because I was young, I rebelled against all of these rules, which I felt I could never live up to (I tend to be a perfectionist)

NW: Where did you go to high school and did you graduate? Did you go to college? Where? Did you graduate? You don’t have to be specific if you don’t want to.
Celeste: My mom started attending a non-denominational church at which point I was put into a private hell - I mean high school - with a “huge” graduating class of three. I went to UMD to study nursing and minored in dance. I wanted to teach dance therapy to challenged children.

NW: What were some of the jobs you held during or after high school or early adulthood? Before entering the adult business.
Celeste: I started babysitting mentally and physically challenged children when I was in fifth grade. By the time I was fourteen, I was working for the state with families who kept their children in the home instead of assisted care facilities. The children I took care of were the highlight of my own childhood. There is nothing better then watching a child achieve a new skill they worked so hard toward. I also had a close bond with some of the families, which was very healing for me.

NW: Were you ever a dancer? If so, Where?
Celeste: Around my second year of college, a friend dared me to enter a strip contest at Déjà Vu. When I experienced how much money I could earn from dancing (which I love to do anyway), I thought I’d be a fool not to do it. When my parents found out, they were not pleased with my choice of profession and I subsequently moved into my own apartment.

NW: How did you first become involved in the adult film business?
Celeste: I think that it was just a couple of months of working at the club when the owners asked a couple of other girls and I to go to Vegas to sign magazines at a booth (which was weird because I wasn’t even in the magazine!)

NW: Early in your career you performed mostly with Woody Long. How did you meet Woody?
Celeste: That’s when I met Woody. We hung out, exchanged contact info, and shortly after that, I packed up and flew to California where Woody picked me up at the airport.

NW: Describe the experience of your first porn scene.
Celeste: My first porn experience was really strange. I had only seen a couple of movies before and really didn’t know what to expect. I remember that they wanted me to say the word “pussy” and I about died! I wasn’t used to speaking like that (“Tabasco on the tongue language” at our house!). The scene was with Woody and that’s about all I can recall. I do know that when Woody and I went home, I told him that I needed to see who performed the most rocking scenes and wanted to learn by watching some of them. It took me a while to really become comfortable in front of the camera, but I had fun learning.

NW: Describe your relationship with Woody. When did you split with him? I guess you know that Woody died in 2002 after having a stroke. How did that make you feel? Were you still in contact with Woody at all during that time?
Celeste: I was with Woody for a year before we married and we were only married up until I did “Borderline.” We were not in touch when he died. I found out after the fact from Dyanna. I cried when I found out because, in my opinion, he truly felt alone in the world and was very self-destructive.

NW: After Woody Long your next serious relationship was with Paul Norman. Did you ever marry Paul? Describe your relationship with him.
Celeste: I never married Paul Norman and we didn’t have a long relationship. We tried to work at being friends because I was pregnant. He doesn’t see the child and we went through a horrific nightmare of a mud-slinging court case for a year or so, which resulted in his parental rights being terminated. I married an E.R. doctor when my son was about one and we had two more children (I love having children). We filed for divorce in 2004.

I can sum up all three relationships like this:

They were unhealthy, dysfunctional, and at times cruel. I also want to take 100% responsibility for the good and the bad in all those relationships. I had to work through my own personal issues and unfortunately, when the people you are with need to do the same thing, everyone’s issues sort of explode at the same time. You can’t figure out where the problems begin and end. I also know that I tried really hard to make things work in my last marriage, which was a catalyst to really awesome but difficult period of self -discovery. I am aware that when you play the role of a victim in life or relationships, you lose all of the power to truly create something wonderful for yourself.

NW: Besides Long and Norman, did you date or have any sexual encounters or relationships with any other adult industry insiders off camera?
Celeste: I did have a brief relationship with someone else in the business; however, without their permission I do not want to kiss and tell

NW: Your appearance changed dramatically midway through your career. You went from a very pretty girl to smokin’ hot. Did you have any work done?
Celeste: Yes I had a nose and a boob job.

NW: You also lost a lot of weight from your earlier days in the business, not that you were heavy early in your career. Were you pressured to slim down? How did you loose the weight?
Celeste: I was asked how I changed my body. I learned my way around the gym and worked out for a couple hours a day. I also started dancing more and riding my bike. I was living across the street from the ocean and loved riding on the path, which is something I miss about Southern California). I don’t regret the surgery at all (I love big boobs) and didn’t feel any pressure (other than that I wouldn’t have been on a box cover had I not gotten the surgery!)

NW: You were one of the biggest stars of the 90’s. I’m going to throw out some names of actors and actresses you performed with and I want you to give me your impression of them. Asia Carrera, Dyanna Lauren, Felecia, Jenna Jameson, Peter North, Rocco Siffredi, Steven St. Croix.
Celeste: My impressions of some of the other actors are as follows:

Asia: Smart.

Dyanna Lauren: My best friend and soul mate; beautiful inside and out!

Felecia: Sweet (we met dancing in the Star Strip in LA.).

Jenna: Good for her! I love success stories.

Peter North: hair and cum.

Rocco: hot, sexy, passionate.

Steven St Croix: great to be around and funny.

NW: You performed some anal sex scenes earlier in your career mostly with Woody. Did you ever perform double penetration?
Celeste: I have never done a DP and anals made me nervous on screen just because all horror stories of the nasty things happening when filming them.

NW: One thing I notice about your sexual performances is that you never had a problem taking a huge facial and just sucking and licking up the mess. With a face as beautiful as yours you gave us some of the most memorable facials ever. Where did you learn to do that? Do you have a cum fetish or were you just playing to the camera.
Celeste:Yes!! Busted! I do have a cum fetish and most of my fantasies have to do with lots of it!

NW: What is the most men you have ever been with at one time? Was it on or off camera? What was the experience like?
Celeste: The most men I have been with at a time was two and it was on camera. I loved it! I had a great time in the scene and it was with Rocco and Mark Davis. I think it’s a hot scene.

NW: You have performed with several women on camera. Do you consider yourself to be truly bi-sexual or was it something you just did for the camera? Have you had many lesbian experiences in your personal life?
Celeste: I don’t consider myself bi or gay or straight, I consider myself “sexual” and when a sexy soul comes along, I don’t care as long as there is a connection!

NW: Were you a Vivid contract girl? If so how much was your contract with Vivid worth on a yearly basis? How many years were you with Vivid? What did the contract require? Did you make more money performing free-lance or being a contract girl? Which did you prefer? Were you ever signed with any other companies?
Celeste: Yes, I was a Vivid girl. I don’t recall how much my contract was worth. I was only with Vivid for a year or so and I loved working for them. It is a great company and they treat you awesome. I never had a contract with another company. I enjoyed working for Vivid and Wicked the most. I made the majority of my money feature dancing. Dancing was like a reward for being in all the movies and magazines and it was great to travel and interact with my fans.

NW: In 1996, you appeared in Borderline which at the time was the most expensive adult film ever made. Was the budget something that ballooned unexpectedly or did Vivid plan on making the movie that expensive? What was the experience like during filming.
Celeste: “Borderline” was expensive, but I don’t know how much the budget was; however, it was partly because there was so much talent hired for the scenes. Personally, I was not in a great place at the time with Woody and I splitting up. He took off with over a $100,000 worth of equipment that I’d bought for my dance show and used it for another feature dancer. I also surrounded myself with people who didn’t bring out the best in me and I made a lot of really self-destructive choices. I still enjoyed filming the movie. It was a great story and I still like watching it!

NW: After Borderline you walked away from the adult business. During that time you were with Paul Norman and got pregnant. Was your pregnancy the only reason you left the adult business? Were there any other factors? How long did you stay with Paul Norman after leaving the adult business?
Celeste: I got pregnant very soon after filming “Borderline” and had always planned to go back to work for Vivid. I changed my mind when I was getting ready to make another movie when I realized that there was more to consider than myself. I started really thinking, “What if I got AIDS and died?” There would be no one to care for my son.

NW: Did you immediately move away from California after you retired or did you stay there for a while? Where did you move to?
Celeste: After I decided to not be in the business, I did go back and live with my parents in Minnesota.

NW: Did you work at all after retiring? Did you feature dance any? Hold any other jobs? Do you work now?
Celeste: I worked again with challenged children and adults providing home health care and I also taught pre-school.

NW: Celeste: Are you currently married or seeing anyone? If so when did you get married?
Celeste: I met my current husband through my ex-husband. We have known each other as friends for eight years and have been together for four. We have one child together. I am so grateful for him and we are perfect for one another. I finally found my own personal Rocco. He is very supportive of me and a brilliant man. We are on this journey together!

NW: Do you ever regret that you left the adult industry when you did? I mean you were at the top when you left. Or do you regret that you ever did porn?
Celeste: I don’t regret leaving the industry when I did. I have regretted being in the industry at times, partly from the guilt I felt from religion and also because of people who have come along and tried to hurt my family (particularly my children) by using my past against me. I am now very proud of what I did and have had a lot of positive feedback from all my wonderful fans.

NW: You posted on IMDb that you are still a very sexual person. Describe your views on sexuality.
Celeste: I have been out of the business for twelve years and I know that some people would like to place the scarlet letters “P.S”. for “PORN STAR” on my head. If that makes them feel better, then that’s their choice. I have chosen a controversial business to be a part of and there are consequences for that. I do believe in the power of sexual energy and the good and spiritual life force that surrounds it. It is a gift to us as humans. We should try to lose all the rights and wrongs, the guilt and the shame, anger, and insecurities that we have attached to our ideas about sex and just take a minute to stop and breathe in what a magical experience it is to connect with ourselves and with others in such a beautiful way.

NW: Feel free to discuss anything that I forgot to ask or left out. Anything that you would like to add?
Celeste: I would like to share something from a book I just read. It describes so perfectly how I feel about my past now that my present is so rich and I am at peace with myself:

There were two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, who were walking along a country road which had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk komono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side. The monks walked in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn’t restrain himself any longer. ”Why did you carry that girl across the road?” he asked. “We monks are not supposed to do things like that.” ”I put the girl down hours ago,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”

The Michelle Maren Interview

Michelle Maren is a former New York City beauty queen and dancer turned adult film star. Michelle only appeared in a handful of films in the early 80’s. Her most notable films are Flash Pants, a take on the popular mainstream film and TV show Flashdance, and Throat: 12 Years After a sequel to the legendary porn film Deep Throat. Michelle left the adult entertainment industry after only a few years and eventually graduated college with a degree in Communications and has spent time working in mainstream television production. She is now a 46-year-old devout Catholic, living in New Jersey.

At the request of a reader, I did some checking on Michelle and discovered her MySpace page. Michelle later found the messages about her on this site and posted a response. After Michelle’s response, I contacted her through her MySpace and she agreed to do an interview. Below is the Q&A between Michelle and myself. Please keep in mind that the questions were emailed to Michelle and her responses were emailed back. At times some of the questions may sound stupid and irrelevant given some of Michelle’s answers, obviously the questioning would have been a little different if it were a live face-to-face interview.

Big thanks to Michelle for being so willing to do the interview. I appreciate her openness and honesty. There are so many women who get involved in adult entertainment who end up dead or screwed up. She definitely has her head on straight and has turned her life around for the best. I want to wish her happiness in all that she does because she is truly a class act.

NW: Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

MM: I was born and raised in Scotch Plains, NJ.

NW: Did you have any siblings?

MM: I am the only child of my father and mother, but have four half-brothers and sisters and one half-brother who is adopted.

NW: Describe your early childhood and family life.

MM: My family was extremely dysfunctional. I was abused both emotionally and physically. The worst thing was being isolated from others. It was a very lonely childhood.

NW: Where did you go to school?

MM: I went to public school until the ninth grade. Then I attended an all-girls Catholic high school.

NW: What was your earliest sexual encounter?

MM: Because I was so desperate to be loved by ANYBODY—I fell madly in love with the first man who offered me the smallest crumb of attention. He was a social worker at Covenant House in NYC—the place that was taking care of me when I left home. He was twenty-nine and waited until my eighteenth birthday to de-flower me.

NW: Did you go to college?

MM: Yes, I graduated at the age of forty with a 4.0 GPA. I am very proud of that because I worked so hard to earn it.

NW: Were you involved in a lot of beauty pageants?

MM: I was a contestant in the Miss New York City pageant, but didn’t make the finals. Then I won Miss Chelsea and Miss Big Apple.

NW: What year did you win Ms. Big Apple?

MM: My “reign” was 1981-82.

NW: How was the experience of winning that particular pageant?

MM: During the finals, as I was standing onstage at Town Hall lined up with my fellow contestants garbed in identical green one-piece bathing suits, I realized that my body was being compared to the other girls’. Suddenly, I felt like a head of cattle. I needed to be validated because of my non-existent self-esteem. I needed someone to tell me that I was worthwhile and beautiful. Mistakenly, I thought that winning a beauty contest would fulfill that need. However, obtaining the title of Miss Big Apple did afford me the opportunity of appearing on several local TV programs and making various public appearances in the New York City area.

NW: IMDb says that you were a singer/dancer that often opened for Tiny Tim, were you a good friend of Tim’s? If so what are your memories of him?

I was one of Tiny’s opening acts. He was a very kind man who was anything but “tiny.” I remember him towering over me and looking down with his very pretty blue eyes. He was extremely generous to newcomers–giving anyone a chance to perform. Tiny was always a gentleman.

NW: What type of music did you sing or were you primarily a dancer?

MM: I liked to sing standards—Gershwin, Arlen, Berlin, Porter, etc. When I sang in Japanese clubs, I learned many songs in Japanese. As a dancer, I did routines to Pop and Broadway tunes.

NW: Did you ever record an album?

No, I never had any interest in recording.

NW: How did you become involved in the adult industry? What factors in your life up to that point do you now see as contributing to your decision to become an adult actress?

I started out as a go-go dancer and eventually began posing in men’s magazines, which led to films. My first was FLASH PANTS. I was the “Flash Dancer” and I posed for the film’s poster and video box cover.

Over the years of working in the sex industry—not only in films, but also as a men’s magazine model and go-go dancer—I met literally hundreds of other young women doing the same. I can tell you with all certainty that women who work in the sex industry are wounded spirits, as was I. We all came from family backgrounds of abuse and/or neglect. We did not value ourselves because we were not valued as children.

NW: Were you a fan of adult films before you joined the adult industry?

MM: I was a fan of adult films neither before nor after my experience.

NW: How many adult films did you appear in?

MM: I performed in five films and worked behind-the-scenes in one—DRILLER. Joyce James had written the female lead for me, but by the time it was made I had decided to leave the business. The actress who played the part needed to have her lines looped (dubbed over). So Joyce asked me to do it.

NW: Which of your adult film roles is your favorite?

MM: I do not favor any of them. I am speaking from both my experience and my heart when I say that the adult film industry is a very dark scene. When I first started out in the business, a director told me that the adult film industry is made up of people who all initially wanted to work in “legitimate” fields. Whether they are actors, directors, or writers—none of them started out saying to themselves, “My goal is to work in porn.” Compared to the straight film industry, the porn business is very easy to get into. You have to possess only mediocre talents to get quite a bit of work.

NW: Do you have any fond memories of making adult films?

MM: The adult film industry is very seductive to a young woman lacking self-esteem. On a film set, she is told that she is pretty and there is a make-up artist, cinematographer, director, and even a script—everything that you would find on a regular movie set. During the filming of THROAT: 12 YEARS AFTER, I remember thinking, “This would be really fun, if only I didn’t have to have sex on camera.” That’s where the low self-esteem comes into play. Any woman with a firm sense of self-worth would never do such a thing. I can tell you with all sincerity that when a woman sells her body, it robs her of a piece of her soul.

NW: You mentioned that you only appeared in one boy/girl scene, what was the movie?, who was the actor, and how was your experience during the filming that scene? Did you enjoy it? was it a bad experience?

MM: Actually, I was in two boy/girl scenes in one film—THROAT: 12 YEARS AFTER. The first was with Eric Edwards—a porn veteran. The second was with George Payne who was very popular at the time. I remember trying so very hard to give a real performance. Both Eric and George were very kind but, no, I did not enjoy it. It is a fantasy that the women performing porn actually enjoy it. No one does. That is why most get high before filming a sex scene—to numb themselves. I was the only female porn actress I knew who didn’t get high and that is why I didn’t last in the industry for very long. I know this may not be what you want to hear, but I am speaking the truth. And the sex industry feeds off of lies—lies about what sex should be, lies about male-female relationships, lies about what women enjoy, lies about sexuality… Please believe me—the sex industry lies.

NW: Most of your scenes were either non-sex roles or with women. Do you or did you prefer women in your personal life or were the scenes something that you tried out of curiosity? Or for money?

MM: I am not now, nor was I ever, a lesbian. I had one girl/girl scene in PUBLIC AFFAIRS with Annette Heinz and I started to cry in the middle of it. The director had to cut and wait until I calmed myself to start filming again. I felt terrible because Annette thought I was crying because of something to do with her. I tried to assure her that it did not have anything to do with her. I simply did not want to be there.

Most women who come from a highly dysfunctional childhood find it difficult to function in mainstream society in a regular nine-to-five job. That is why I continued to work in porn even after I decided not to have sex on camera anymore. I thought, “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad as long as I don’t have sex on camera.” But I was wrong. It was still an extremely negative environment, regardless of my level of participation.

NW: What was the average pay for a porn girl back then?

MM: As I recall, I was paid $1500 for THROAT: 12 YEARS AFTER for three days work. I believe “West Coast Girls” were paid more.

NW: You appeared in the film Shauna Every Man’s Fantasy w/ Shauna Grant, did you actually get to meet Shauna? If so what are your memories of her? Was she troubled? Did she show signs of the bad things that eventually happened to her?

MM: I never met Shauna. When I started working in the industry, Shauna had already quit. In addition to performing in films and posing in magazines, I also wrote articles. I was assigned to write an article about Shauna’s life. She was scheduled to start filming a “comeback” film the day after she shot herself. At the same time, her boyfriend (who was in prison for dealing drugs) told her to move out of his house. I think she felt lost and hopeless and the thought of going back to porn was too much. Yes, Shauna was troubled, as are all women who perform in adult films. The number of suicides, over-doses, murders and AIDS-related deaths are quite high among porn actors.

NW: You also appeared in the film Public Affairs along side porn legend Annette Haven. What was it like working with Annette? What are your memories of her?

MM: I have never seen this film, but I don’t believe that I had any scenes with Annette Haven. I only remember the scene with Annette Heinz, which I have already described.

NW: What is the wildest or craziest memory or experience you have thinking back to your time in the adult business?

MM: When I was working on PUBLIC AFFAIRS, they were supposed to feed the actors. For lunch, a couple of crewmembers dragged in a large black garbage bag filled with some sort of stew. The garbage bag burst open and huge amounts of brown sludge-like stew flowed throughout the studio. This incident showed me how the filmmakers regarded the actors—we were befitting of eating garbage.

In FLASH PANTS, there was a girl appearing in the film who was underage. Yet it was legal for her to perform because her mother was on the set and signed the release forms. I remember the mother brought homemade macaroni salad for the cast and crew.

In the same film, there was a young woman who was covered with bruises. I asked the make-up artist about her, and was told, “Oh yeah, her boyfriend beats her.” No one did anything about it. Her bruises are clearly visible in the film.

Getting the shot is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter if the woman is high or battered or even underage—as long as you get that shot.

NW: Why did you decide to quit making adult movies?

MM: My conscience told me that it was the wrong thing to do.

NW: Do you regret your decision to appear in adult movies?

MM: I am grateful that I got out when I did.

NW: If you could give a bit of advice to girls who are thinking of getting involved in adult entertainment or are already involved in the industry what would it be?

MM: If asked for my advice, I would say to a women who is attracted to any aspect of the sex industry that she would benefit from a close inspection of herself. The sex industry is a world of loneliness and lies, of emptiness and coldness, of hurting human beings who pretend that they don’t feel the agony. It is a slow suicide—a suicide of shame. Fulfillment cannot be found in the sex industry. It will only pull you lower into the pit of darkness. Value yourself and live in the light.

NW: You mentioned that you have some porn actresses on your MySpace friends list. Do you keep in touch with any of the porn people from your time in the industry or are these people that you met after you left the business?

MM: I always thought that porn actors are good people. Through MySpace, I recently re-connected with Ron Jeremy, with whom I never worked, but met at a film premiere. The women from my day have either moved on to other things or, sadly, have passed away. There are some women on my page who are currently working in the industry, but I do not preach to them. I try to live by example. But if anyone asks me questions regarding my faith, I am more than happy to answer.

NW: Do you still watch adult films?

MM: I was never interested in watching adult films.

NW: Do you consider adult films immoral?

MM: I believe adult films are extremely immoral because they promote the objectification of women and the objectification of sex—which is a beautiful gift from God to be shared by a loving husband and wife. I choose to live a celibate life until I marry.

NW: Have you ever been married? If so, how many times and are you currently married now?

MM: I have never been married, although I came very close a few times. However, I haven’t given up hope that God will provide me with a wonderful husband.

NW: Do you have any children? If so, how many? how old are they? If not, then what has been behind your decision to not have children?

MM: I have never had any children. Though I love animals and consider my pets my children.

NW: Your faith is obviously a big part of your life these days. Did your faith play a part in your decision to quit appearing in adult films or was it something you became more serious about later in life?

MM: I was baptized at the age of thirty—many years after my decision to quit the adult film industry. Yet, I know that the Holy Spirit was always speaking to me and guiding me. Sometimes I just didn’t listen.

NW: Were you raised Catholic or did you convert later in life?

MM: Though I attended a Catholic high school, I was not Catholic. In my late twenties, I wanted to join a Christian church but was confused by all the different denominations. I prayed to God for guidance. Every weekend I visited a different denomination. When I arrived at a Catholic Church, it felt “right.” I took religious instruction and was baptized and confirmed in 1991. Now I try to live a life that’s pleasing to God. Through my faith my life has direction and purpose, which was previously lacking.

NW: Do you currently work? If so what do you do for a living? What other jobs have you held since leaving the porn business?

MM: Suffice it to say that I have a degree in Communications and have worked in television production.

NW: Where do you currently live? You do not need to be very specific on this question.

MM: After living in New York for many years, I moved back to New Jersey.

NW: What are your goals, dreams, aspirations?

MM: I would like to finish my autobiography, which I’ve been working on for ages. I would like to get it published and do public speaking engagements. Also, I would like to produce and host an uplifting Catholic variety show, much in the same vein as the old Jim and Tammy PTL Show.

Thank you for your interest in my life. I have tried my best to answer your questions honestly.–