Interviewer: Timothy Snarr
Date of Interview: 9/11/2007
TS: I know you’re from a small town in North Carolina and I read that your town kind of looked down upon your choice of careers once you made the decision to go out to California. I was wondering if you wanted to discuss that at all?
FL: Yeah that’s fine. One person from my high school saw me on the internet and word got passed around really fast. It’s kind of country down there because I grew up in the mountains, so I lost a lot of friends and I don’t really speak to many people. I still do have family in North Carolina, but it’s somewhere I would never be able to move back just because they might not treat me the best and I just don’t want that.
TS: That leads in to my next question. I wanted to get your opinion on why you feel that people look down so much on the industry and why there’s such a negative stereotype surrounding it, because it’s obviously something I run into working for AEBN as well. When people find out where I work, sometimes you get turned up noses and bugged out eyes at what you do. So, I was curious as to your impressions and your feelings on why there’s such a negative stereotype surrounding that?
FL: North Carolina is in the Bible Belt and I know in the Bible they’re, ‘Oh, no sex before marriage.’ And you’re selling your body as an object – you’re not supposed to do that. So, a lot of people, even if you’re not having sex for money, but you’re having sex before marriage, then it’s the same way. They kind of turn up their noses. I grew up religious and my family wasn’t very happy with that choice just because of the whole, ‘Oh, my God! I can’t believe you didn’t wait until marriage – blah blah blah!’ I think it’s just something that it is. I’ve watched many programs on the porn industry and all these radicals and what they say and what they think and how it’s a sin to sell your body and sell your soul – blah blah blah.
TS: That’s completely how I feel. On that point, coming from that kind of background then, what was it that attracted you to the adult industry?
FL: It was honestly the money. I was in school in Raleigh and I was trying to pay for a full [class] load and working my ass off pretty much and it just wasn’t cutting it. I wasn’t making enough money to stay in school and then keep an apartment or whatever. I just had to do something and people were always like, ‘Oh, you should model.’ But, I didn’t feel comfortable enough with myself at that point to model at that time, so I jumped into porn (laughs).
TS: Do you think then that it’s usually about the money? I’ve talked to a couple stars recently who said it really wasn’t about the money, which was a little surprising, because I follow sports quite a bit and when athletes say it’s not about the money it usually is.
FL: It’s about the money. I’m not going to lie. I use porn as a stepping-stone to what I eventually want to do. So, I’m not making this a long-term career. It’s a short-term thing, but if you see me on camera you’re never going to know that I’m there just for the money. I know how to enjoy myself and I know how to give a good performance, but ultimately when it comes down to it, it is about the money.
TS: I guess this is a multi-part question. As far your aspirations, what are some of the goals you’ve set for yourself in this career? Have you reached those goals and do you have a timeline for some of the other things you might want to pursue in life after you leave the adult industry?
FL: Well, I wanted to save my money. I am married now. We own two houses at this time. So you know, that was one of my goals - to own property. I own a house in California and I just recently…we just recently purchased a house in Colorado. That was my ultimate goal with porn - to save enough money to get to where I’m going. Eventually, I’m going to go back to school, and even if I don’t do anything with the schooling, I’ve always loved education and I love learning, so that’s kind of where I want to be headed in the future.
TS: You mentioned your husband a second ago. His name is Marco, correct?
FL: Marcos. With an ‘s’.
TS: Marcos - I’m sorry. I read a great story about how you guys met, and the essence is that you didn’t really know that each other was in the adult industry when you guys started going out. I’m sure with fans and that kind of stuff it gets real difficult sometimes to keep your fantasy lives separate from your real lives. What was it like finding out [Marcos] was in the industry as you were, and how do you guys keep your personal lives separate from your career lives?
FL: Well, when we did meet and we finally told each other it was kind of a big relief, because being with someone who doesn’t understand what you’re doing…like I said it’s not all about sex. When we go to work, it’s work. We’re working our asses off, literally. So, it was kind of a relief to find out, ‘Hey, this guy understands. He knows where I’m coming from.’ And, he pretty much has the same goals as me. He was saving his money. He wanted to start a family - you know, have a house, property, all that stuff. I really lucked out, that’s how I figure it. And then…I don’t remember the second part of the question (laughs).
TS: I was just wondering how you guys keep your personal lives from blending in with your work lives, because I know that fans can get so rabid that they can’t separate you, the person outside the industry from you, inside the industry. So, I wanted to know how you guys…because I also read that you don’t like really watching him with some other girls…
FL: There are couples out there that go to each other’s scenes and that’s fine. I’m not like that. I can’t watch his scenes. I’ve done it a couple times just because I was bored or whatever, but I’m not there getting off on him fucking another girl. It’s the same with me. He doesn’t come and watch my scenes with another guy. It’s just very separate. At home, we might know who each other is working with, but we don’t talk about it. We don’t come home and be like, ‘Oh my God, baby, he turned me upside down and fucked me so hard…’ We don’t do that, you know? We don’t talk about it too terribly much. We’re very homebody and so we don’t really go out too much and we don’t see a lot of the fans. For me, personally, I don’t have a MySpace or a website or anything, so no one has really contacted me unless you have my number. So, I don’t have people bothering me or I don’t get weird e-mails or anything like that. I live a very normal life. If you were to meet me outside of work, you’d have no idea what I do.
TS: (laughs) So, you don’t get recognized on the street very often, even in the area you live…is that kind of what you’re saying?
FL: I’ve never been recognized, because I look incredibly different…like because I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I grew up in freaking Western North Carolina. I know what car parts are. I’m not all glammed up. I don’t wear high heels and lots of make-up whenever I go out to the grocery store.
TS: Well, you probably don’t have to. It’s a good segue way into my next question. You mentioned you probably wouldn’t get recognized very often, but you are one of the taller girls in your industry at 5’11”, if I’m not mistaken.
FL: Yep.
TS: Has that been a benefit to you as far as helping you get roles in films, or do you find that it’s been a bit of a detriment as far as getting your career off the ground and getting it to where you want?
FL: I think it has been a good thing - being so tall. I’m taller than pretty much most of the guys and definitely the girls. I know a lot of people because I have the model-esque type…the very tall, slender…and I don’t look like the typical porno girl, which there’s nothing wrong with looking like that, but I don’t have that look. So, whenever people don’t want the whole glammed out…that type of look then they don’t really…that’s why they hire me. I’m noticing that a lot of the directors…they absolutely love me. But, there’s a couple who don’t like my look and that’s fine. I don’t have big boobs, and I’m not actually tiny. I have curves, I have hips, and I have an ass. I always joke with myself, “Oh yeah, there’s something back there you can grab.” It’s a total woman’s body (laughs).
TS: (laughs) That’s definitely a plus as far as I’m concerned. Do you find, then, that maybe some directors might have an issue, because, and I hate to use the word ‘intimidation’, but I know guys generally do get intimidated by taller women, especially women who have brains like you obviously have. So, is that perhaps one of the reasons directors may shy away from that?
FL: I don’t know. I’ve never really had a director come up to me and say ‘Oh, I’m too intimidated by you.’ I know in the past that guys have been intimidated by me. I know some of the directors – they just love the little, tiny girls that are the total porno girls. So, if you have one little stereotype in your mind and you’re not willing to go outside the boundaries, you’re never going to do it. In a way they might be intimidated, but I really don’t know.
TS: As far as working with Michael Ninn at Ninnworx, I know he’s one of those guys that doesn’t necessarily fall into a certain stereotype, or want to trap himself into a box. I know he’s exceptionally creative. I also know he’s exceptionally elusive as far as talking with people and granting interviews. What is he like and what is it like working for him?
FL: He’s an incredibly intelligent man - very artsy. He knows what he wants and so when you have a vision in your head you go with it and it normally turns out beautiful. His stuff is by far some of the most beautiful stuff I’ve done. I love working with him. He kind of wants you to do your thing. You know, it’s not ‘Okay, do step A, then step B, then step C.’ It’s more, ‘You know what? You guys go ahead and do your thing and I’ll work around you. If I need something, I’ll tell you.’ That’s the type of director that everybody wants to work with. As a performer, you’ve learned to know what you feel comfortable doing and which angles you think are good for you. So, whenever you know that, you’re able to work with the director and it just turns out beautiful.
TS: So, he gives you a lot of artistic freedom.
FL: Yeah.
TS: As far as releasing stuff through his studio, I know Through Her Eyes was released on February 21st. I was wondering if you might describe a little bit about that film?
FL: Well, I guess they shot most of the non-sex stuff in Prague. I wasn’t part of that. I guess they just had a little crew in Prague and they shot all of that. As for the sex scenes…it was different. It’s so hard to explain. It’s beautiful stuff. We shot it in amazing places. The costuming was great. It’s just total Michael Ninn stuff. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s stuff that people fall in love with. I think I shot three scenes in that movie: a girl-girl and two boy-girls, I believe. You can’t really change too much about it. It’s just very beautiful stuff the way everything is laid out. There’s nothing grainy or horrible. It’s really nice.
TS: Awesome. As far as upcoming projects that you might be working on: are you allowed to share a couple things or do not have those sketched out yet?
FL: I really don’t have too much sketched out. I’ve kind of been out of touch with the adult business right now. We’ve been busy purchasing a house so that’s a stressful time. So, I’m going to jump back in and find out some projects that I can do.
TS: I was wondering if you might elaborate too on some of the industry awards or other recognition that you’ve received?
FL: I don’t really receive a lot of recognition too terribly much. I’m kind of this girl that…they know I’m out there, but I’m not well known. I was nominated for some AEBN stuff, but didn’t win. A lot of people don’t know who I am. I’m trying to change that a little bit, one by one. It’s kind of cool in the same way because you don’t get bugged all the time by freaky people (laughs).
TS: Right (laughs).
FL: But, I’ll shoot with new directors and they’re like, ‘Oooh, how long have you been around?’ And I’m like, ‘Uh, three years.’ They’re like, ‘Really? How come I’ve never seen you?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know’ (laughs).
TS: Who are some of the more interesting or fun stars that you have worked with on set so far?
FL: I don’t know. I have a bad memory. I don’t remember too much about working with people. I’ll remember who you are, but nothing really jumps out in my mind.
TS: One more question about the career thing. I was curious if there’s anything you said going into [the adult industry] that you wouldn’t do, but you ended up doing and/or liking?
FL: No. I never said I wouldn’t do anything. I never said I wouldn’t do anal or I wouldn’t do DP. I never said that. I’ve done a couple anal scenes. I think I might have done one DP scene a long time ago when I was really new. You know, it’s not something I favor so I’m not too upset that I don’t do it anymore. But, everything else I do which is like the normal…I’m very vanilla compared to a lot of people in this business.
TS: Is there anything you know now about the industry that would have helped you when you first started out?
FL: No. Not me personally. I’m not saying I know it all, but I never really got taken advantage of. You know, you hear all the horror stories of people getting taken advantage of and getting ripped off, but I knew about the real world and how people are people. I carry myself not to put me into situations where I could possibly get hurt or screwed. It’s the same way with money. I’m not going to be doing this forever…
TS: You kind of broke up a little bit there. Can you still hear me?
FL: Yeah.
TS: I just have a couple more things. I was going to ask a couple short, personal questions and then I can let you go. I know you have other things you need to do. Would you be kind enough to tell me what your best feature is as far as your physical appearance goes?
FL: I like my boobs. I’m very fond of my boobs, you know. They’re very cute and perky (laughs). They’re not huge, but fun to play with. I catch myself playing with them all the time.
TS: (laughs) That’s funny. In college, my buddies and I used to say that if we had breasts we’d probably never leave the house.
FL: (laughs) Yeah, they’re really fun to play with.
TS: How about the worst? Do you feel you have a worst? Do you want to mention it?
FL: Well, in my eyes, I’m not the fondest of my hips. But, I know I’m crazy. I get tons of complements on my hips. Actually I have two or three things. I’m insane. He’s staring at me now like, ‘Oh, no. I can’t believe she said that.’ (laughs). But, I’m a girl. A typical girl. I’m always concerned about stuff.
TS: How about your biggest turn-on whether in a scene or just in general?
FL: I like when someone has an accent. You know, my husband has a Spanish accent. That’s the hottest thing on earth for me (laughs).
TS: How about the biggest turn-off?
FL: Gross teeth. If you have stuff in your teeth, that’s like…yeah, that’s horrible. Eeeew.
TS: So, no broccoli before shooting I guess, huh?
FL: Oh, God! Please brush your teeth (laughs).
TS: Favorite position?
FL: Missionary.
TS: What would somebody who doesn’t know a lot about you be surprised to learn about you if they found out?
FL: If who?
TS: What’s something that might surprise people about you?
FL: I look like a little straight and innocent girl. I’m very timid. I’m very shy. I can be very energetic when the video camera turns on. A lot of people think I’m just, ‘Oh, she’s just going to lay there.’ But, I’m pretty aggressive. I’m very dominant with women. You’d never realize that if you met me.
TS: Last question: I know you’ve made the point that you don’t feel a lot of people either recognize you in the industry sometimes and even outside the industry, but what would like to be remembered for when you decide that you want to wrap this up as a career and move on to school or other things?
FL: I don’t know. What would I want to be remembered for? Probably for the scenes…for being highly energetic. For being in scenes that people will always want to see and not as the nasty girl or anything like that, but a high-energy seeker.
TS: Cool. That’s all I had. I really appreciate your taking time out. I’ve really enjoyed talking to you. I want to wish you good luck with everything and your future and all that stuff.
FL: Thank you very much.
TS: You’re welcome. Take care.
FL: Have a good day.
TS: You too. Bye-bye.
Thanks to the gorgeous Faith Leon (free nude gallery) and thanks to Mr. Snarr for sharing with the rest of the class.