Jenna Jameson (born Jennifer Marie Massoli on 9 April 1974) is an
American pornographic actress. She is one of the most successful
female porn stars in the world, sometimes given the unofficial title
"The Queen of Porn".
Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada to a family with Italian roots; her
father was a police officer while her mother was a showgirl. Her
mother died when Jameson was three years old. During her childhood,
she took ballet classes, which helped future career in dancing, and
was a frequent entrant in beauty pageants.
At age 16, Jameson began dancing in strip clubs with the help of a
false I.D. Initially rejected from dancing at the Crazy Horse strip
club because of her braces, they quickly relented when she removed
them herself. During her dancing, she became a voracious drug user,
using such drugs as acid and speed.
When she was 18, she moved to California, where her father had moved,
and with his help she became clean. By age 20, and with her father's
blessing, this quickly led to nude pictorials in such magazines as
Hustler, Penthouse and Cheri.
After a bidding war, Wicked Pictures, a pornographic film production
company, signed Jameson to an exclusive contract. After only a few
films, she quickly achieved fame and critical success, and, in 1996,
won top awards from three major industry organizations.
Jameson has also made cameo appearances in some mainstream movies and
other media, including Howard Stern's 1997 film Private Parts and, in
2002, as the voice of a porn star called "Candy Suxxx," in the popular
video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
In 1997, she made an appearance for an Extreme Championship Wrestling
PPV as the valet for the Dudley Boyz, followed by a few months where
she was the ECW interviewer. She also filmed a vignette with Val Venis
in the WWF.
In 2001, she debated the merits of porn against a panel of anti-porn
activists at the Oxford Union and won the debate 204 to 27.
In 2004, Jameson's autobiography, How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A
Cautionary Tale (ISBN 0060539097) was released. Co-written with Neil
Strauss, it was an instant best-seller.
She currently is co-owner of ClubJenna, a website and movie-production
company, along with her husband, porn-director Jay Grdina (who
performs and directs under the stage name of "Justin Sterling"). The
couple reside in Arizona.
In 2005, her moan tones (moaning sounds) were made available for
downloads as ringtones.
As of April 13, 2005 she and publisher ReganBooks are currently in the
midst of a lawsuit. The point of contention is the new reality show
around Jameson's "everyday life" -- a deal that was being inked out
between her husband and A&E. ReganBooks indicates however that this is
a breach of Jameson's contract, as the contract indicates that
ReganBooks has a stake in the profits generated by two different
venues: a one-hour special based on her memoir and reality-based
series. As of this writing, an agreement has not been reached
regarding this suit.
In August 2005, she launched Club Thrust, an interactive website for
her gay fans, which includes videos, galleries, sex advice, gossip,
and downloads. Jameson is one of the few actresses in straight porn to
have developed a following among gay audiences.
In October 2005, production began on The Provocateur, in which Jameson
made her directorial debut. The film is expected to be released in
late 2006.
Quotes
* "Making eye contact during rough sex is roughly the equivalent
trying to read Dostoyevsky on a rollercoaster."
* "I know that when I do get pregnant, I won't step one foot in the
adult industry again."
* "Though watching porn may seem degrading to some women, the fact is
that it's one of the few jobs for women where you can get to a certain
level, look around, and feel so powerful, not just in the work
environment but as a sexual being. So, fuck Gloria Steinem."
* "I try my hardest to push the point that I am a feminist. I really
think it's important that people know that the women in this industry
are empowered. They run it, man. It's awesome."
* "The funny thing about being a porn star is that everyone
automatically assumes that they can sleep with you. This is what I do
for a living. I don't just let anyone get into my pants."
Selected Filmography
Adult Work
* Up And Cummers 11 (1994, 4-Play Video)
* Blue Movie (1995, Wicked Pictures)
* Jenna Loves Rocco (1996, Vivid)
* Conquest (1996, Wicked Pictures)
* Wicked Weapon (1997, Wicked Pictures / Vid?o Marc Dorcel)
* Satyr (1997, Wicked Pictures)
* Dangerous Tides (1998, Wicked Pictures)
* Flashpoint (1998, Wicked Pictures)
* Hell On Heels (1999, Wicked Pictures)
* Dream Quest (2000, Wicked Pictures)
* Briana Loves Jenna (2001, Vivid / Club Jenna)
* Bella Loves Jenna (2004, Vivid / Club Jenna)
* The Masseuse (2004, Vivid / Club Jenna)
* The New Devil In Miss Jones (2005, Vivid)
* Janine Loves Jenna (2006, Vivid / Club Jenna)
Mainstream Work
* Private Parts (1997)
* Ali G, Aiii (2000)
* Analyze That (2002)
* Porn 'n Chicken (2002)
* Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain (2005)
* Sin-Jin Smyth (2006)