After I won a contest to win an autographed book from Nina Hartley, I was offered the opportunity to ask her a couple questions.
Do you get nervous before you go on camera? If so, what calms you down?
Not really, after the first couple of times. I was so happy to finally be making adult films I was more excited than nervous. I really like what I do.
What went through your head the first time you starred in a movie?
“Oh boy! I’m finally actually DOING this instead of fantasizing about it. I hope I do a good job.”
How’d you get into all of this?
I had wanted to make porn since I saw my first movie, “Autobiography of a Flea,” after sneaking into an adult theater in my hometown. From that point to making my first movie took eight years. During which time I started actually having sex, attended nursing school, found a boyfriend who was supportive of the idea and started stripping on Saturday nights to get a feel for professional exhibitionism. I enjoyed it right away, but never cut school to make movie.
My boyfriend at the time met Juliet Andersen at a supermarket and he recognized her from adult films. He approached her and she gave him her card. We sent her some pictures right away and she put me in the first movie she ever directed, “Educating Nina.”
What was your favorite movie to star in?
“Debbie Duz Dishes.” A great, silly comedy. It had tremendous legs and made me a star. I don’t do a lot of features (with a story line) any more, so my favorite recent video is “Seasoned Players 12,” where I do a great scene with a great friend, Sean Michaels, for another great friend, Tom Byron, who directed.
Why did you decide you want to be a sex educator?
I got the idea when I was a teenager, before I had seen that first porn movie. I had a lot of questions about sex and sexuality and there was NO place for me to find good, honest, no-bullshit answers. I figured I couldn’t be the only person with these needs and ideas. I was already interested in sex and the medical field and was intending to become a nurse-midwife. If I hadn’t been pretty and/or exhibitionistic enough to make movies I’d have become a midwife and just had developed a really active social life on the weekends.
As a midwife I know I would have taken an interest in sex education for young (16-21) people. As an adult entertainer/educator I have to stick now to people who are aged 18+.
What do you tell people when they ask what you do for a living?
For a long time I just said, “porn,” and waited for their reaction. I look so “normal” when I’m not on set it always took people by surprise. If I didn’t want to get into it I said I was a nurse and that usually took care of it.
Now I say, “Adult sex education,” and that interests people. Sometimes I mention porn and sometimes I just talk about my college presentations, etc.
What’s the oddest reaction you’ve ever gotten after telling someone?
Nothing really odd. People are interested in sexual issues and are usually happy to meet someone with a calm, relaxed and open attitude about it.
What do you spend most of your free time doing?
Working on my new site, SexWise.me, cooking, being with my husband, having sex, reading, writing, trying to hang with friends. I enjoy my family but don’t get to see them as often as I’d like.
