Entertainment Tonight, February 8, 1999
Host: They are women who wanted to make it big in Hollywood. And they did. They are among the most popular new stars in porn. Now they talk about their fame and fortunes and their very different hopes for the future in our Entertainment Tonight cover story.
Narrator: Devon found her way here from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Devon: "I was a little nervous. I didn't know what to expect."
N: Shyla [Foxxx] came from Chicago.
Shyla Foxxx: "I never thought I would be here but I have to say that I wouldn't trade it for the world."
N: Coral [Sands] was a country girl from Alabama.
Coral: "What if my friends find out? What if my family finds out?"
N: Today these three women are among the hottest stars in adult video.
C: "I completely acknowledge the fact that what I do is not so normal."
Luke F0rd: "Why do women perform sex on film? Money."
N: Luke F0rd is the author of "A History of X", a new book on the industry. He says top actresses can make over $100,000 a year and lots more from strip clubs.
Luke: "There are probably two or three who are making over $500,000 a year. There are probably a dozen or more porn stars clearing $200,000 a year."
Shyla: "I can't believe that I can have such a great income and have so much fun."
N: But all that fun and money comes with a price. Despite precautions, there is the threat of AIDS.
Coral: "It only takes one time. It's a scary issue."
N: Family and friends might not be so enthusiastic about your new job."
Devon: "Some of them are cool and some of them didn't want to hang out with me and be my friend anymore. I guess I could expect that."
Coral: "So many people can't possibly imagine that this is ok."
Luke: "It's a very tough business. It really grinds people down."
N: Shyla, who's in college studying criminal justice, plans to quit in a year or two."
Shyla: "My goal is to be the best criminal attorney out there. But besides that, I'd like to be a judge some day."
N: Coral wants to be a singer and settle in the mountains in Tennessee.
Coral: "Every other thing I'm doing is working for one thing and one thing only - buy my way out of LA."
N: They may go but new ones are certain to replace them. And bring with them, big dreams.
Devon: "I want to be the biggest porn actress. I want to be the biggest star."
N: Luke F0rd's book "A History of X: 100 Years Of Sex In Film"
will be in stores in March.
On March 8, 2001, on their weekend edition, Entertainment Tonight profiled porn stars who've done mainstream TV.
Host: There were a few adult film stars up to the challenge and they set their sights on primetime.
Traci Lords: "I went and did it all. The drugs, the sex, everything. It was a horrible combination. I want younger people who might think X-rated films... well look at Traci Lords, she made it because she did that. I want them to understand what really happened to me. There's so many things that led me to do that and there was very little help when I wanted to get away from it."
Narrator: Traci Lords was an X-rated star who got caught up in the business as a minor.
Traci: "I never thought I was going to live to be 20. I thought 20 was old."
N: When she decided to turn her back on the adult film industry and make it in mainstream films and television, she found nothing but problems.
Traci: "It isn't easy. It's been so difficult. Are you kidding me? I just don't think it is right when someone tells you that you can't have something just because of something that you did when you were younger or you just made a mistake..."
N: But Traci persevered and that iron will paid off. We caught up with her doing a guest spot on McGyver. And then with a recurring role on Melrose Place. She remembers when she got that first call for a mainstream role.
Traci: "I just said, 'Can you hold on for a second?' And I put the phone down and screamed 'I got it.'"
N: Traci's also currently on the sci-fi channel series First Flag. But her success story is unusual. Many other X-rated stars have had trouble making that jump to primetime.
Jenna Jameson: "I think it is only a matter of time until I crossover and become the biggest star anybody's ever seen."
N: Jenna Jameson has high hopes and she did win two guest spots on Nash Bridges. But so far the mainstream has eluded her.
Marilyn Chambers of Behind The Greed Door fame made some R-rated cable movies but hasn't been able to move beyond that.
Marilyn: "My phone has not been ringing off the hook with a remake of Gone With The Wind or anything. I'm settling for middle of the road stuff and hoping that it will lead to other things. Of course. But I am not going to hold my breath."
N: Ginger Lynn Allen managed to make some feature films and did guest starring roles on Silk Stockings and NYPD Blue. But found it hard to achieve mainstream stardom.
Ginger: "I do feel that there are people who aren't willing to take a chance with me or to give me opportunities. I feel very confident with my abilities today. I've studied hard. I've worked hard. I take my craft seriously. So hopefully else aside from me will take me seriously."
N: The latest X-rated star to go for primetime is Alisha Klass. After 20 adult films, she got a non-speaking role on Melrose Place and a featured part on Showtime's 1999 series Hooplash. But she still faced the X-rated stigma when she won a role in the film Cruel Intentions that ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor.
Alisha: "He goes, 'Fine, you can come down here to read today. But don't come down here looking like a porn star.'"
N: Unlike other adult stars, Alisha intends to keep making X-rated films while pursuing her mainstream dreams.
Alisha: "What you put your mind to and what you put your heart to, will come true."