Nina Hartley interview

Ever since Nina Hartley has entered this industry, she has always been one of the nicest people in adult films. It is not a surprise that her kindheartedness towards people's welfare would also appear on film. Thus, she forged into making instructional sex movies. Those films are still the standard that all instructional movies are compared to. However, this Hall of Famer should also be known for her acting roles too. She really excels in comedy. I loved her role in Not Bewitched XXX. Currently, Nina can be seen in Sweet Sinema's Wives Club and in March, she will be in Reality Junkies' newest series MILFs Seeking Boys. As long as Nina makes adult films, I am one fan who will always watch them. She is a true priceless treasure.

Hi Nina, I still remember seeing you on screen for the first time in Sorority Pink back when I was in college. In your opinion, how has the adult industry changed for the best and the worst since you first appeared in those early films?

The short answer is that the business has gotten much bigger, and distribution of adult material has got off the leash, so to speak. Before, one had to order movies from magazines or go to a brick-and-mortar store and get it in person or find magazines under the bed of a parent or older sibling.

The good side is that there is more awareness about health and safety among performers today. While the clinic we had for twelve years, AIM, was destroyed by politics, the performers continue to test and to view each other’s tests.

The bad thing is that piracy in the digital age is killing off companies. If I don’t get paid, I’m not going to work, so if people want to continue viewing new material and new performers, they’ll have to pay for it. As well, too many casual performers come through here, not knowing for what they’re signing up, and porn is not something one should do casually, as it can follow you your whole life.

I have always loved your acting performances. What are your feelings on the recent revival of using storylines in adult movies such as parodies and features?

I like both story-driven movies as well as sex-only ones. I like the acting, especially comedy, so it’s fun when I get the chance to do it. I just worked recently for Stormy Daniels where I played one of the character’s mother. Super fun, as Stormy has great ideas and only does feature work.

You have a loyal following with the lesbian-loving fans. What are your thoughts on the growing emphasis of filming authentic sensual and erotic orgasmic sex on screen that studios like Girlfriends Films and Sweetheart Video are known for?

It’s nothing but good that there is so much interest in passionate and romantic girl-on-girl action. I love it, myself, as women were a motivating factor in my wanting to do adult entertainment in the first place. Anything that shows true affection and intimacy between screen partners is good, as so much of the material these days can be a bit repetitive or by the numbers.

Your newest film is Sweet Sinema's Wives Club. A good underlying title would be The Revenge of the Milfs. What is your role in this movie and why do you think men have the need to stray away from their mate?

I didn’t see the original movie, but I think Diane Keaton was the template for my character.

Men and women both stray, so I don’t think it’s just a male characteristic.

One of the reasons that marriage is so hard on men is the expectations of monogamy throughout the entire relationship. Very few men can do that willingly and lovingly, though plenty do. These days, both men and women have the expectation that sex and intimacy will continue throughout the marriage, but not everyone knows how to make that work in real life.

You have worked with the very talented Nica Nolle in many projects. Could you please tell us the underlying reasons why she is one of the great directors in this industry?

Because, like me, Ms. Noelle has an underlying philosophy about sex and relationships, and has something to say about them. She’s here for a bigger reason than just a paycheck. She’s worked hard, is very smart, puts in long hours and generally busts her butt with writing, directing, overseeing editing, and planning four or more shoots per month. It’s a killer schedule and I don’t know how she does it!

Oh, and she really, really likes sex, both as an idea and as a practice.

How did you get into the adult industry?

I had wanted to do porn since I saw my first movie, in a theater, when I was 17. I had been reading porn since I was younger than that, as it was the 1970s and things were freeer then, for good or ill. It was in Berkeley, California, and so was even more free than most places outside of New York City.

I started house dancing when I was 23, while attending Nursing school, and made my first video when I was 25. So it was eight years between the idea of porn and the actuality. I’m glad it took so long, as it gave me a chance to mature, so my experience in porn, overall, has been positive.

What have been your most pleasurable moments? What have been your least pleasurable ones?

In porn? Least pleasurable include: the boat sinking/rescue when I made “Pussyman 15,” in 1997. Most pleasurable? Too many to count, but I’ll say the blow job I gave Sean Michaels in “Seasoned Players 12,” from a couple of years ago.

One of your biggest legacies and most rewarding achievements in this industry is your role as the innovator of instructional porn. Could you tell us the reasons why you decided to venture into this genre? Also, could you tell us one moment when a couple told you that your films were a significant help to their sex life and how did you feel that your work made a huge difference for them?

As a nurse, education is part of what we do, and our culture is in desperate need of good, non-judgmental sex education. Sex is partly a physical skill set, and those skills can be taught, like one teaches cooking techniques. The emotional skill set is harder to teach, but having confidence in WHAT to do can help us get over our resistance to WHEN to do it, or WHY, or with whom.

I’ve had more sex than most people, and have been sober all the while, so I remember most everything.

Nurses are to role model healthful behavior, advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves, and to educate people as to how to improve self-care. So, like teaching a diabetic how to monitor his or her blood sugar levels, I’m here to teach people how to do specific sexual acts.

I’ve gotten countless letters saying how much my educational tapes have helped individuals and couples. But what really touched me occurred years before that. A couple approached me at a movie theater and shared that, when they were making love on a schedule in order to optimize the chances of her getting pregnant, they’d use my movies to get them in the mood at the same time. They were ultimately successful, which was an amazing thing to hear, as I had gone to nursing school with the intention to become a midwife.

There is no doubt that you connect so well with your on-screen partners. Thus, heated passion develops. What makes a man sexy? What makes a woman sexy? What traits do you admire in a man? What traits do you admire in a woman?

To me a person is “sexy,” when they’re confident in their bodies and confident in sharing what they know/like/want/don’t want. I like a sense of humor and for a person not to be too nervous.

Physical-trait wise, I like a nice ass and legs on a guy. I don’t need him to have a six-pack stomach or a horse dick. At home I like six inches or so and a man who can make me laugh, and who is very smart. If it’s just a bonk, I can go for more man-candy, but then I prefer to be in the driver’s seat. If a man is confident enough, I do like to let him “drive,” but I’m more than willing to drive myself if the connection is not there.

With women, I like those who prefer to be on the receiving end of sexual attention from a woman. I’m definitely more butch/active when it comes to the ladies and like a “pillow queen.” I like both femme and butch women, and am more likely to allow a butch woman to take the lead, a la Syd Blakovich, than a femme.

For both, I like humor, intelligence, and a generous nature. I don’t like phonies, arrogance, jerks, bitches, drunks and flakes, or smokers.

Are there any industry people (actors, actresses, directors, even studios) that you would like to work with if the time and situation were right?

Of course!

What are your hobbies and interests?

I like reading (non-fiction mostly), cooking, hiking, sex parties, movies (don’t go often enough), getting a massage (never enough of those!), being in nature, hanging with my family (I like them a lot and have many nieces and nephews, and as many greats). 

How were you as a kid?

Lonely, bookish, socially awkward, the youngest, chatty, already thinking about sex a lot (though I didn’t know WHAT to think about it), and slightly artistic. In high school, I was very active in our drama department’s costume workshop.

What is your favorite thing about being an adult performer?

That I get to talk about sex without it being deemed “inappropriate,” that anyone can approach me and talk about sexual matters, all that sex without having to date everyone, the travel all over the world to be Nina (Germany, Sweden, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, France), performing for those whom I can’t meet in person, and having all that sexual experience.

What would you like to say to your loyal and supportive fans?

I’d like to thank them for their support all of these years, and to let them know that I care for them, and their sexual happiness and want them to succeed in building the relationships and sex lives of their dreams. Thanks for all of their letters over the years, and for coming to see me in person when they can. Please keep fucking and know that, if I could, I’d be there in person. I can’t be, so I send the movies, instead.

Are there any web sites or future projects that you would like to promote?

My official fan site is www.nina.com. Twitter: @ninaland. Face Book: The Official Nina Hartley Fan Page.

I continue to work in front of the camera and hope to branch out into standup comedy and spoken word performances. I have a lot to say and don’t need to be naked to do it!

Interview by Apache Warrior

My email account: [email protected]
My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ApacheWarrior