Jenna Jameson is widely regarded as the world’s most famous female
pornstar and often dubbed ‘The Queen Of Porn’. That neither of these statements
are often disputed just goes to show just how highly she is regarded within the
industry, and just how much impact and influence she has had in and over the industry
since not long after her movie debut as a 19 year old in 1993.
Jenna Jameson started her career much as many pornstars experience – some stripping and posing
for men’s magazines, as well as one or two high profile shoots for well-known
adult photographers. Certainly, if you look at her early career, there seemed
to be nothing to suggest the remarkable and iconic level of success that she
proceeded to achieve for well over a decade – especially after an early relationship
with big name photographer Suze Randall turned sour over ownership
rights on her pictures.
A couple of years of fairly unremarkable movies, during which time she decided
to turn to hardcore action in an attempt to increase her fortunes, followed,
but after signing a deal with the then little-known fledgling company Wicked
Pictures, her fortunes started to flourish. With Wicked Jenna Jameson
found what was arguably her big break starring in the movie Blue Movie
which then went on to win a number of AVN Awards at the 1996
ceremony. This night of success was to be a pivotal point in the history of
both the company and its breakthrough star.
From there on in, Jenna Jameson’s trail of success seemed almost unstoppable.
Mainstream film roles in the likes of Private Parts, a film
based on the life of shock-jock Howard Stern on whose radio
show she would often appear, and TV deals with Playboy followed.
At the same time, she was THE in-demand performer in the industry, with every
big name company and director desperate to sign her up for their movies.
The formation of her own company, Club Jenna, in 2000, would
be the move that would catapult her far, far above the rank of merely being
regarded as a ‘top pornstar’. With her company turning over a profit after less
than a month in operation, groundbreaking access-all-areas and behind-the-scenes
features and a move into talent procurement that saw the company sign the likes
of Krystal Steal and Sophia Rossi to high-profile
deals, the company was an immediate and remarkable success.
Her transition from influential figure in front of the camera to one behind
the camera would, arguably, be even more important than anyone could calculate
at the time. Blazing a trail for stars to make the move back behind the cameras,
her move would influence stars as big as Tera Patrick to make
a similar move. It also meant that she no longer felt the need to make as many
appearances in front of the camera.
Although her increasing move away from involving herself in shoots and movies
alienated many within the industry, many ridiculously accusing her of turning
her back on the industry that ‘made’ her, presumably ignoring her influence
from a back-seat position, her growing business portfolio started to capture
the eye of the world outside of porn. Now an intelligent, strong and driven
businesswoman, Jameson started to make tentative suggestions
about her imminent retirement.
She sold Club Jenna to Playboy for what one
insider called ‘not far off being an absolute fortune’, fueling rumours that
her increased appearances in the mainstream media were in turn fueling a desire
to move away from porn. And, in a controversial announcement at the 2008
AVN Awards ceremony, she confirmed it – she had retired from the porn
industry, commenting, “I will never spread my legs in this industry again.”
Desp
