MOST people believe the porn industry is full of wild orgies and seedy old blokes pressuring young women into performing sex acts.
But two top stars of the X-rated business insist that what everyone thinks they know about their job is wrong.
Instagram/maitlandwardMaitland Ward went from Hollywood star to porn star[/caption] Flamboyance FilmsSofia Kappel plays a wannabe porn star in the movie Pleasure[/caption]
Former Boy Meets World TV star Maitland Ward, 45, switched to making adult material three years ago and was named 2022 XBIZ Porn Performer of the Year.
While Derby born Keiran Lee, 38, had his manhood insured for a million dollars after becoming a porn star in the US almost two decades ago.
The pair are speaking in response to a graphic new movie called Pleasure, streaming now, which explores the darker side of steamy film-making.
Directed by feminist Ninja Thyberg, it shows young wannabe porn star Bella Cherry, played by Swedish actress Sofia Kappel, being told to “push through” her nerves when she gets stage fright about her first sex scene.
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The men are largely portrayed as sleazy blokes drooling over the newbies.
But Maitland claims the crew she works with have seen so much writhing flesh that they aren’t turned on by the X-rated action.
She tells The Sun: “Most of the guys are so bored with it, they’ve seen it all a million times.
“They’re probably thinking about what to have for lunch or picking up the kids from school.
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“Honestly no one is staring at you drooling, there are no seedy guys jerking off in the corner. It’s a job. We enjoy it, but it’s a job.”
Strict contracts
Instagram/maitlandwardMaitland starred in Boy Meets World before moving into adult entertainment[/caption]
Maitland appeared in the US soap The Bold and the Beautiful from 1994 to 1996 playing a character called Jessica Forrester, and then rose to stardom as Rachel McGuire in Boy Meets World from 1998 to 2000.
But when casting directors started to tell her she was “too old to be sexy”, she switched to California’s adult entertainment world instead.
She says: “I have never ever in a million years been pressured to do anything I didn’t want to do by a male director or a male performer.
“In the sets I have always been on, if you say no, the rule is the filming stops with no questions asked.”
These days there are strict contracts determining what can and cannot be done in each porn movie.
All the sexual positions have to be agreed on, written down, in black and white
Maitland Ward
Maitland continues: “People think a porn set is like some wild orgy 24/7 but it’s not – it’s more controlled than you could imagine.
“All the sexual positions have to be agreed on, written down, in black and white. You agree in writing to have sex on film and exactly what that sex will be.
“You have to say you’re not under the influence of anything or anyone.
“Even the celebrity sex tapes these days, if that film is in a store being sold with a cover and everything, then they would have had to agree to that.”
Long days
Instagram/maitlandwardMaitland says the hardest thing about the job is long hours and the fact it’s physically tiring[/caption]
Intercourse is only a small part of what can be a 14-hour working day on set.
She reveals: “The first thing is hair and make-up, which can take up to two hours. The sex part takes about an hour-and-a-half.
“The rest of the time it’s all back to make-up, rehearsing, acting, doing scenes.”
Once they’re naked the performers can get so into the mood that they are exhausted by the bedroom gymnastics.
If you’re doing 45 minutes of acrobatic sex with two guys it can be a lot of hard work
Maitland Ward
Maitland says: “It is physically challenging and sometimes someone might need to take a break if they get too excited or need some water, that does happen.
“But believe me it’s hard work. If you’re doing 45 minutes of acrobatic sex with two guys it can be a lot of hard work.
“It’s like a dance routine – like for ice skaters, for example, it’s a routine, you’re performing to the cameras.”
No orgies
Keiran Lee has worked in the American porn industry for almost two decades
Brit porn star Keiran, who claims he turned down a part in Pleasure, believes anyone joining the X-rated business might be disappointed by the lack of parties.
The Los Angeles based star says: “People think it’s like Boogie Nights with raging parties, copious amounts of drugs, but there is nothing like that at all.
“At least 70 per cent of the people in the industry are in long term relationships. The older performers like myself are happily married with children.”
Keiran has three children with fellow adult entertainment industry star Kirsten Price.
He got into the business by accident at the age of 19, after his mates posted naked photos of him on a swingers website.
At least 70 per cent of the people in the industry are in long term relationships. The older performers like myself are happily married with children
Keiran Lee
A couple who saw the pictures asked the well-endowed lad to appear in an amateur video, and his career was launched from that.
Right from the off, Keiran discovered there was a strict focus on preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
He adds: “People say ‘you guys aren’t wearing condoms.’ Yeah, but we’re getting tested every 10 days.
“A full STD panel for HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, hepatitis, you name it, you’re getting tested for it. You go pee in a cup and your blood is drawn.
“When I first started back in England it wasn’t pleasant at all, it was a cotton bud down your, err… not the most pleasant of things.”
Limited lovers
Maitland is married and her estate agent husband Terry Baxter is fully supportive of her career.
Even though she makes porn, she says the number of guys she has sex with is limited.
Maitland, who is releasing a book called Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me From Hollywood later this year, says: “My girlfriends tease me saying, ‘Oh my God you must be having sex with all these different guys all day every day.’
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“But let me tell you, there are about 15 top male performers in this industry and you get to work with the same ones again and again.
“There actually isn’t that much variety.”
AlamySofia Kappel in Pleasure[/caption]