For fear of being too mainstream, I skirted around the idea of writing about the usual porn actresses everyone’s already known about. I mean, what else is there to write about them? You’ve most probably read everything you need to know about them in all the formats they’ve been featured in.
I basically didn’t want to be lumped in with the porn writers who automatically go for the more established names in the porn industry. I personally like the more obscure porn actresses.
But I do have my favorite “mainstream” porn actresses.
One of them is Sasha Grey.
Yes, she’s on top of every porn writer’s list because she’s beautiful and sexy as hell. And it doesn’t hurt that she goes all out in her performances and has no qualms about the scenes she figures in. Porn directors and people she’s worked with say basically she’s great to work with because she’s very professional about her approach to the industry.
She memorizes her lines (what little dialogue there is that needs to be in the scene), practices her blocking maneuvers so the camera has great footage of her from all angles and is generally a sweet person with an amiable personality. And did I mention she’s gorgeous and sexy as hell?
Coming in as a relative unknown is already hard enough but how do you make an impact when your first foray into the porn industry is being cast in an orgy? It’s easy to get lost into obscurity once you have so many people on set.
Easy. Be the most outrageous newbie. She managed to do this by asking Rocco Siffredi to punch her in the stomach while getting roughly banged up. That thing definitely made her stand out.
And it was no surprise that she became the Best New Starlet of the Year in 2006. The offers came pouring in like a torrential downpour after that. She went on to star in over 300 films ranging from masturbation scenes, girl girl scenes, boy girl scenes, anal, threesomes, orgies (obviously), gangbangs and everything else in between that you can think of. She became the face of porn during the entirety of her tenure in the porn industry and she did a good job being the ambassador of the industry heralding a new surge in interest in either becoming part of it or watching the products coming out.
She didn’t stay long though. She got out while the going was good and before people got too tired of her. She was basically all over the place and that builds up fatigue in the minds of people, even the most devout fans are prone to falling out of love for their favorite person if they see too much of her.
She focused on other projects outside of the porn industry and built her reputation of being a multi-faceted artist slowly, brick by brick by engaging in all sorts of activities and excelling in them.
Nowadays, she is no longer just Sasha Grey the porn actress. She has added many more titles to her name. She is now Sasha Grey, novelist, musician, actress, public figure, entrepreneur, artist… and the list goes on.
These are the many shades of Sasha Grey.
Film and TV
Sasha Grey may have said goodbye to performing sex acts in front of the camera but that doesn’t mean she has said goodbye to her career as an actress.
Sasha Grey has transcended the porn industry and has become accepted in the mainstream media. Her most notable appearances were in Entourage and The Girlfriend Experience. And here’s a funny thing: I stumbled upon the film (The Girlfriend Experience) by accident. I kept saying to myself “I’ve seen this girl before…” I couldn’t make the connection that it was Sasha.
You don’t regularly see porn actresses in feature films that don’t require them to be naked the whole time and performing all sorts of sexual acts. Somehow, she managed to pull it off and showed off that she is more than just a sexual person we can fixate on in her videos.
Although it didn’t get the most favorable reviews from established film critics, I still thought it was a good film. Not the most groundbreaking film though but a good enough vehicle to show off Sasha’s legitimate acting skills.
Music
Sasha Grey is also a musician. She used to be in the band aTelecine, an Industrial band she formed with another musical collaborator. They went on to produce a couple of Studio albums, EPs and LPs and did get mainstream recognition for their work. They played in festivals all over the country.
Sasha eventually moved on while the rest of the band continued.
She provided vocals for Throbbing Gristle another established Industrial band.
She has since then been featured in videos by Eminem, The Roots and The Smashing Pumpkins. Not bad for a porn star eh?
She continues to dabble in all forms of music and is a certified fan of all genres.
Product Endorsements
Sasha Grey has many companies lining up asking her to represent them. She has since then modeled for European companies and is the endorser for Forfex shoes and Manoukian ready to wear line. Thanks to her linking her name and image to their brands, these companies have seen an upsurge in their sales.
American Apparel is also a brand she endorses and there are more offers coming her way. She’s a bit picky though and will only represent those she truly believes in.
Advocacies
Sasha Grey is an outspoken girl when it comes to issues she truly believes in. She has represented PETA and claims she is for animal birth control which is a wise stand for someone as young as her as there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of these poor things in shelters.
She is also very outspoken about defending the porn industry. She may not be completely a part of it now but she is still a staunch supporter which has made her a very well loved public figure by the fans she initially made through having sex on cam. She hasn’t turned her back on anyone and is proud to say she once was a porn actress.
She openly defends the rights of women in porn and tries her hardest to change the minds of people and their views on the industry. It’s a noble act from someone as young as her.
She says most women in porn made the conscious choice to have a career in it and most of them love being in it not only for the money but also for the opportunities and experiences that come with it. She also said that women can be as perverse as men and love having sex on cam just as much as their male counterparts do.
Novelist
Perhaps, the most surprising turn of events in her career is the fact that she has gone on to write books. To date, she has 2 and they’ve become best sellers thanks to the multitudes of fans she has all over the world. The first one is a photo book called Neu Sex while the second one is a book more suited to be written by someone like her. The Juliette Society is an erotic novel that explores sexuality in all its forms and it is a great read. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.
She continues to write today and there may be another book in the works coming out soon.
How did she become such a huge star?
Sasha has had a lot of struggles along the way. It wasn’t all that easy for her but she remained true to herself and her dream of making it as a successful porn actress. She also had her sights on other things after porn. While still actively working in the industry she was already busy doing things on the side that would open up doors for her to pursue her other interests.
She embraced her career as a part of her life and made everyone understand that she is who she is on her own terms.
Another notable thing about Sasha Grey is her attitude towards her career as a porn actress. She was a true professional. She came to the set on time and didn’t act like a prima donna despite being the biggest star at that time. When asked if they’d like to work with her again, her co-workers gave a resounding yes.
She didn’t fall into the trappings of most porn stars downfall which is drugs and partying too much. She instead adjusted her focus to improving herself in all aspects of her life.
The result of that is the very successful young girl you see today who has broken all sorts of barriers and stereotypes to prove that porn actresses aren’t just one trick ponies.
Sasha has shown that there is more to her than meets the eye.
50 shades of grey?
That’s not enough to cover the many shades of Sasha Grey.
