The road to success or making it big isn’t easy, really (we tried). We are all filled with fantasies about hitting the jackpot in Hollywood while we are growing up. But truth be told, it’s much more depressing. Because big-budget film roles are uncommon, many are forced to accept the second-best offers. Unsurprisingly, struggling artists turn to the adult film industry during difficult times. Yeah, just some as while some people entered the adult industry by coincidence, others did so because they loved it and were skilled at it. However, just because these people became adult film stars does not mean they intended to remain so indefinitely.
After a few years of making money from movies, sleazy websites, and X-rated magazine photoshoots, several of the top adult entertainment stars retired from the profession in favor of a less limelight. Some disappeared entirely, while others secured high-profile “respectable” careers… From news reporting to parenthood, these people had no interest in adult films in the first place. It just so happened that they were good at it and became favorites (and sometimes icons). And so here are porn favorites and what they’ve done since quitting the adult industry.
Sibel Kekilli
Then
Sibel Kekilli was a porn performer in Germany for around six months under the stage name Dilara, but she kept that aspect of her work quiet until it was revealed to the public following her success in a mainstream film. Her father told Bild, “The disgrace is too great for the family… I can never forgive her for it. I don’t want to ever see her again.” Harsh, right?
Despite her father’s judgment, Sibel was able to build a reputation for herself after retiring from pornography. For example, she is best known for her role as prostitute Shae in the first several seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones. However, many fans of the fantasy hit may be unaware that Kekilli rose to prominence as the lead actress in the film Head-On, for which she received two Lola film awards.
Lately
A year after playing Shae in Game of Thrones, Sibel Kekilli secured a permanent role as Sarah Brandt in the crime drama Tatort. Previously, she was only a supporting character, but she now has a long-term role. She expressed her pleasure about the role to Focus, stating that she was “glad not to be playing a character of foreign descent” after being stereotyped in previous performances. She quit the series in 2017 to pursue her other interests. Sibel now lives in her native Germany, having recently chosen German roles over sots in Hollywood projects.
Aside from acting, Sibel is a political activist for women, supporting Terre des Femmes, International Women’s Day activities, and anti-domestic abuse campaigns. In 2006, Sibel stated on behalf of the newspaper Hürriyet, “I have experienced for myself that both physical and psychological abuse is regarded as normal in a Muslim family. Unfortunately, violence is part of the cultural heritage in Islam.” This statement caused a lot of grief for Sibel since the event, and she eventually blocked Turkey from her Instagram account.
Maitland Ward
Then
Contrary to popular belief, Maitland Ward began her acting career as Jessica Forrester on CBS’s soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful before joining the cast of Boy Meets World in its sixth season. Similarly, she did not get into pornography until after trying out cosplay. Her costumes began innocently enough until she began attending conventions wearing only body paint!
The former child star has achieved fame outside of child acting, and it isn’t for anything particularly suitable for children. Maitland has seen every facet of the entertainment industry, from posing for images in provocative cosplays at Comic-Con to acting in pornographic films beginning in 2019. Maitland immediately switched from costuming to posing for naked photos on social media before releasing her debut pornographic video Drive.
Lately
This lady is currently capitalizing on what she sees as a “savvy business move” into pornography, according to TMZ. Maitland told In Touch Weekly in 2019 that she has never regretted changing careers.
“It’s been an evolution,” Maitland added. “It’s all been my authentic journey because everything I’ve done along the way is something I wanted to explore and do; I just did it publicly for my fans, which is my exhibitionist style.” In her personal life, the actress married a real estate agent in 2006 and moved to New York with him. Maitland Ward attended New York University and studied writing and screenplay.
Amber Rayne
Then
Amber Rayne, aka Meghan Wren, began her acting career as a child actor, not as an adult entertainment star. This hottie was born in Detroit, Michigan, and has worked as an extra in major movies and films. Amber began her career in 2005 when she turned 21 and after ten years, she announced her retirement from the industry.
This retirement, however, was not permanent. Amber later starred in her final pornographic film Wanted in 2015, fulfilling vows she made to Stormy Daniels six years before. Razyne’s other positions in the industry included editor, director, producer, fluffer, and BDSM lifestyle influencer.
Lately
Even after officially retiring from pornography, Amber continues to promote her BDSM lifestyle on personal social media platforms. In addition, in her retirement, she worked as a driving instructor, kept many animals (rabbits and a mule named Zephyr), and faced various medical ailments such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and uterine cancer.
Tragically, Amber Rayne died of an accidental drug overdose in 2016. She collapsed in her Los Angeles home on April 2nd, and her official cause of death was revealed in late June. The Medical Examiner-Coroner of Los Angeles County determined that Rayne died from a fatal combination of cocaine and alcohol. Even so, Amber Rayne is remembered as a successful actor, animal lover, and educator.
Jill Kelly
Then
Jill Kelly is primarily recognized for her work in adult entertainment, despite participating in a number of mainstream films and establishing her own production company. In fact, she was invited into the AVN Hall of Fame, which is only open to adult film stars with “a minimum of 10 years in the industry.” In addition to acting in, producing, and directing pornography films, Jill Kelly has appeared in over 50 mainstream B movies, including Big Sister 2000, He Got Game, and The Legend of the Roller Blase Seven.
But it’s no secret that pornography was her principal source of fame. Jill started her start in the profession as a stripper at the Babydolls Theatre. She was so keen to get into the profession that she provided the club with fraudulent identification in order to work there despite the fact that she was only a teenager. Later, she performed live pornography shows in San Francisco, which led to appearances in adult films. What’s Kelly up to now?
Lately
Unlike other adult film stars who resigned from creating adult films after ten years, Jill Kelly has no plans to stop anytime near. As one of the industry’s biggest performers, Kelly was able to launch her own production firm, Jill Kelly Productions (JKP). Despite declaring bankruptcy in 2005, Penthouse paid millions to acquire its assets, effectively saving her name.
Despite previous initiatives, Kelly is determined to pursue her adult film profession despite setbacks. In terms of personal relationships, she was married three times, divorced twice, and one spouse committed suicide.
Jill Kelly is openly bisexual and was in an intimate relationship with fellow actress P.J. Sparxx. She said in the documentary Sex Under Hot Lights that Sparxx “supported her” following the loss of her husband, Cal Jammer in 1995. Jiller here is still single, by the way.
Stormy Daniels
Then
Stormy Daniels is a notorious figure in both pornography and mainstream media. Why? She may have gained celebrity status through porn, but she rose to mainstream prominence because of the incident involving Donald Trump and his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Trump and his team insist Daniels is a fraud, but it’s not difficult to imagine that a president would spend $130,000 in hush money to conceal an affair.
Before the crisis, Daniels was best recognized for her work as a pornographic actor and director. At the age of 17, she started working as a stripper in Baton Rouge. Daniels was lured into adult entertainment while working as a stripper, which led to her working for Wicked Pictures and appearing in American Girls Part 2: Sin City.
Lately
Everyone assumed the Trump-Daniels issue was finished in August 2018, when the ex-president’s lawyers failed to enforce the NDA or reject Daniels’ assertions. However, the case was dragged out until cops in Columbus, Ohio, targeted the porn star at a strip club. Daniels’ counsel argued that the arrest was politically motivated. It turns out that the lead detective was a staunch fan of Donald Trump.
Daniels stopped stripping but continues to act in pornographic films and receive honors for her performances. In more personal matters, she divorced her third spouse in 2018. Additionally, Daniels publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter in 2019, prompting many followers to rally in her support despite her numerous scandals.
Riley Steele
Then
Riley Steele, who was born in California, began her career in the adult industry by working at Starbucks and a snack bar, as do most amateur actresses in Hollywood. She subsequently met Jesse Jane in 2005, who introduced Riley to the world of pornography, but Riley wasn’t convinced for a few years later. However, once she signed with Digital Playground, her life changed forever.
Riley is another adult film actress who has made the transition to mainstream films, albeit only barely. While she is arguably most recognized for her work in the porn-themed Pirates of the Caribbean spoofs, she also appeared in Piranha 3D, which we assume is a legitimate acting credit. But, to be honest, pornography is more credible than that lousy movie series.
Lately
Riley Steele’s current activities are unknown, at least in terms of non-pornographic content. She’s currently active in adult movies and continues to receive X-rated accolades, including the NighMobes Award for Best Body (Fan’s Choice) in 2017 and 2019. Well… She knows what she is good at!
Aside from Piranha 3D, Riley has landed a few television appearances, including Manswers in 2010, Life on Top in 2011, and The Girl’s Guide to Depravity in 2012. Back in 2011, she even hosted an awards ceremony! Yes, it was for AVN. But it still counts!
Katie Morgan
Then
Katie Morgan got her start in adult entertainment after being arrested in 2000 for bringing 100 pounds of marijuana into the United States. Those charges resulted in a large bail and a plea bargain, so she turned to porn to pay off her bills. Her debut appearance was in Dirty Debutantes 197, released in 2001.
According to the 2003 HBO documentary Katie Morgan: A Porn Star Revealed (2005), she picked the pen name “Katie Morgan” as a tribute to Gone with the Wind and Captain Morgan’s rum. Katie left from the profession in 2008 to focus on talk show hosting and traditional acting, but she returned to filming seven years later.
Lately
Katie Morgan was recently recognized into the XRCO Hall of Fame, which recognizes the most well-known adult entertainment workers. For her, it’s a well-deserved honor, especially considering she was elected into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2013, an organization that only accepts artists with 10 years or more of experience.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Katie and her husband moved from California to Las Vegas in 2013, citing “such a pay raise” tax-wise. She could also raise unusual creatures, including a kangaroo, even though California wouldn’t allow it. “I have a whole herd of Chihuahuas and a couple of large dogs, and some cats, and a turtle collection, and my cockatoo. My kids all have four legs.”
Nina Hartley
Then
Marie Louise Hartman, commonly known as Nina Hartley, is a filmmaker, sex educator, sex-positive feminist, and author, in addition to being a pornographic performer. According to Hartman, the first adult film directed by a woman, The Autobiography of a Flea, inspired her career choice.
Harley was initially featured in photo spreads for Hustler and High Society, but she swiftly secured her first part in the film Educating Nina. In the early 1980s, while studying for nursing school, she worked as a stripper at the Sutter Cinema, which inspired her stage moniker “Nina.”
Lately
Aside from adult entertainment, Nina is a dedicated social reformer and sex-positive crusader. “Sex isn’t something men do to you,” Harley insists. “It isn’t something men get out of you. Sex is something you dive into with gusto and like it every bit as much as he does.” She co-authored her Guide to Total Sex with her husband Ira Levine in 2006, which is described by the Library Journal as a “well-written guide on… safe sex and… handles the material frankly, accurately, and with sensitivity.”
Nina is still making and appearing in adult films in 2015. In 2019, the former registered nurse won the XBIZ Award for Best Non-Sex Acting Performance for her role in Future Darkly: Artifamily. Since then, she’s kept a quiet profile with her porn director husband while they work on their trade.
Sunny Leone
Then
Sunny Leone, now a well-known model and actress in American and Indian films, was previously a popular adult entertainer. In 2003, he was named Penthouse Pet of the Year (a strange moniker, but whatever) and continued to perform for Vivid Entertainment until 2010. During those years, she progressed through the ranks of porn performers, reaching the top twelve.
After appearing in her first Bollywood film, the sensual thriller Jism 2, Leone formally switched from pornography to mainstream acting in 2013. She told MTV: “I am lucky that the audience is accepting me. I have come my way from (the porn industry). I don’t have any plans as of now to go back there.”
Lately
After announcing her official retirement from pornography, Sunny Leone never returned. In 2016, she was named one of the BBC’s Top 100 Women and appeared on the cover of Exhibit Tech Magazine. She has largely acted in Indian films, such as Ragini MMS 2 and Ek Paheli Leela, as well as the reality show Bigg Boss 5.
In her personal life, Leone adopted her first kid with her spouse Daniel Weber in 2017 and gave birth to twins through surrogacy in 2018. She currently resides in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with her family and actively supports the ASACP and PETA. Leone told PETA India that she believes “every single dog should be spayed and neutered,” earning her the title of PETA’s 2016 “Person of the Year.”
Sasha Grey
Then
Sasha Grey ranks first among the biggest stars on early 2000s web platforms. Her first film, Fashionistas Safado: The Challenge, was released in 2006 and immediately set the tone for the rest of her X-rated career by asking her co-star to punch her “in the stomach.” That’s an odd way to get your name out there. She also rode the new technological wave, which created a whole new and convenient method to experience sexual content.
Sasha received the Female Performer of the Year award in 2008. She recorded her last pornographic video in 2009 when she was only 21 years old, and formally retired in April 2011. Despite her retirement, Sasha’s name remains a chart-topper over the world for her previous performances. According to The Economist, the industry’s sales increased to between $40 and $50 million in the 2000s.
Lately
Sasha’s X-rated popularity led to a mainstream career in Hollywood films, modeling, and music. Her film credits include both television (Entourage) and films such as The Girlfriend Experience and I Melt With You, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Sasha modeled for magazines like Penthouse, Rolling Stone, and Playboy, as well as brands like American Apparel.
Sasha just began hosting her own show on VENN, The Grey Area and experimented with live streaming on Twitch in 2020. On IMDb, Grey Area is characterized as a “talk show that answers all of life and love’s burning questions”. Sasha Grey and Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park get raw with celebrity guests and experts on everything.”
Holly Sampson
Then
Surprisingly, acclaimed porn star Holly Sampson began her career in Hollywood as a kid actress. Many people are familiar with her big films from later in life, although she actually began acting as a teenager in The Wonder Years, My Two Dads, Beauty and the Beast, and Pump Up The Volume.
Her mainstream career is best described as infrequent, so she naturally decided to dive headfirst into hardcore films under the names “Nicolette” or “Zoe.” However, she quickly transitioned to the softcore side of the industry and found plenty of success, becoming one of the most well-known adult entertainment stars in the business.
Lately
Surprisingly, acclaimed porn star Holly Sampson began her career in Hollywood as a kid actress. Many people are familiar with her big films from later in life, although she actually began acting as a teenager in The Wonder Years, My Two Dads, Beauty and the Beast, and Pump Up The Volume.
Her mainstream career is best described as infrequent, so she naturally decided to dive headfirst into hardcore films under the names “Nicolette” or “Zoe.” However, she quickly transitioned to the softcore side of the industry and found plenty of success, becoming one of the most well-known adult entertainment stars in the business.
Traci Lords
Then
Traci Lords has acted in a number of cult favorites, including Serial Mom and Blade, but she is best known for appearing in Penthouse magazine when she was only 16. After that, she starred in a number of pornographic films, including What Gets Me Hot! in 1984, as well as appearances in Velvet, Juggs, and Club publications.
Traci performed in some of the first pornographic films during the industry’s “golden age,” was dubbed the “Princess of Porn,” and earned more than $1,000 per day as the highest-paid sex performer in history. However, her career in the sector did not endure long, as she moved on to mainstream acting in the late 1980s.
Lately
Since 2015, Traci has focused on developing activities outside of classical acting. Don’t worry, she’ll still appear in movies and television shows from time to time. But she wants to launch her fashion career. In June 2016, she unveiled her Pinup Girl Clothing partnership, which was inspired by the movie Cry-Baby and 1950s fashion.
Traci Lords explained her inspiration for the clothing line to The San Francisco Examiner, saying, “John [Waters] wrote such strong characters in Cry-Baby. And in that rockabilly, punk rock, vintage pin-up girl kind of world, Wanda Woodward is pretty much a queen.” She launched her second collection alongside Helmut Lang in 2017, the same year filming began for her directorial debut, The Unquiet Grave. The COVID-19 outbreak forced the postponement of one of her most recent films, Nicole, Her Ex, and the Killer.
And that’s it, folks! Hope you enjoyed this one…