COLUMNS
Sasha Grey: Dawn of Porn Star (interview)
/ Brandon Stosuy
09.22.06
It seemed ideal to christen a nascent, still untitled porn column by interviewing Sasha Grey, the adult film industry’s most intriguing newcomer. A complex mix of smarts and almost violent fearlessness, Grey’s as comfortable talking about her first gang bang and interest in rough sex as she is Jung, Italian neo-realism, Brutalism, Byron, and “single malt 30 year old Scotch.” Self-aware transgression and hardcore intelligence often go hand in hand, but what makes Grey an anomoly is that she’s just 18 years old.
High-gloss punk porn/alt porn is the hip, art-world ready, generally boring aesthetic path these days––tattoos, dye jobs, the missionary position. Grey’s as punk as they come, but thankfully doesn’t feel the need to dress up like a cartoonish Warped Tour extra. And unlike the generally vanilla “Alt” strain, she’s known for her unrelenting, intrepid, over-the-top shit-talking performances, making porn that puts to shame the Valley-based implant-n-tan-line sort.
Look for Grey in upcoming issues of Hustler, Barely Legal, Taboo and Tight. She's also a new editor at Fox Magazine. “They’ll have me do interviews on porn stars and such,” she told me. “I'm not quite sure what my other duties will be yet.” She’ll grace the cover of the November issue. For now, check out the following conversation, which took place via email.
FANZINE: You entered the porn industry shortly after you turned eighteen. How long did you know porn was what you wanted to do?
GREY: I knew I wanted to do porn after exploring a semester of college and working full time. I started my research in August of 2005.
FANZINE: How did you go about researching?
GREY: Online of course! I read a lot of interviews and watched as much smut as I possibly could. I also practiced positions and played with toys a lot. Hopefully one day somebody will be reading this interview for the same purpose.
FANZINE: Did you have idols or role models?
GREY: I was fascinated by Belladonna’s work as a performer and spent a lot of time on her website.
FANZINE: What did you find fascinating?
GREY: She has an intense energy that never fades away and commits to each scene. She made girl/girl porn better than great. I actually get off on it. Here was this woman who was creating, and always making intense, nasty porn. She's an innovator.
FANZINE: Now you work together. How'd you meet?
GREY: The first time was on a go-see with my agent. The second day he started representing me. We were at the Evil Angel office and she was getting her costume fitted for The Fashionistas 2. It was so surreal—she was one of the first porn stars I met in those two days, and happened to be my favorite.
High-gloss punk porn/alt porn is the hip, art-world ready, generally boring aesthetic path these days––tattoos, dye jobs, the missionary position. Grey’s as punk as they come, but thankfully doesn’t feel the need to dress up like a cartoonish Warped Tour extra. And unlike the generally vanilla “Alt” strain, she’s known for her unrelenting, intrepid, over-the-top shit-talking performances, making porn that puts to shame the Valley-based implant-n-tan-line sort.
Look for Grey in upcoming issues of Hustler, Barely Legal, Taboo and Tight. She's also a new editor at Fox Magazine. “They’ll have me do interviews on porn stars and such,” she told me. “I'm not quite sure what my other duties will be yet.” She’ll grace the cover of the November issue. For now, check out the following conversation, which took place via email.
FANZINE: You entered the porn industry shortly after you turned eighteen. How long did you know porn was what you wanted to do?
GREY: I knew I wanted to do porn after exploring a semester of college and working full time. I started my research in August of 2005.
FANZINE: How did you go about researching?
GREY: Online of course! I read a lot of interviews and watched as much smut as I possibly could. I also practiced positions and played with toys a lot. Hopefully one day somebody will be reading this interview for the same purpose.
FANZINE: Did you have idols or role models?
GREY: I was fascinated by Belladonna’s work as a performer and spent a lot of time on her website.
FANZINE: What did you find fascinating?
GREY: She has an intense energy that never fades away and commits to each scene. She made girl/girl porn better than great. I actually get off on it. Here was this woman who was creating, and always making intense, nasty porn. She's an innovator.
FANZINE: Now you work together. How'd you meet?
GREY: The first time was on a go-see with my agent. The second day he started representing me. We were at the Evil Angel office and she was getting her costume fitted for The Fashionistas 2. It was so surreal—she was one of the first porn stars I met in those two days, and happened to be my favorite.
