Decider After Dark

Lights, Camera, And Lots Of Action: 10 Porn Stars Who Went Mainstream

By Josh Sorokach @joshsorokach

Published Aug. 11, 2017, 9:00 p.m. ET

1127 Shares

Photos: Everett Collection, YouTube ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

**Sasha Grey**
**Mainstream roles:** *The Girlfriend Experience, Entourage, I Melt With You*
After starring in over 200 adult films, Grey officially retired from the porn industry in 2011. Perhaps best known for her starring role in Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh's *The Girlfriend Experience*, Grey also had a memorable six-episode arc on the seventh season of *Entourage* in which she dated Vinny Chase. In typical *Entourage* fashion, Grey and Vince eventually break up, which leads to a distraught Vince insulting Minka Kelly and, of course, getting into a fist fight with Eminem.
[Where to stream *Entourage*]Photo: HBO

**Mary Carey**
**Mainstream roles:** *After Porn Ends, Celebrity Rehab*, politics
You might recognize Carey for her work in the adult film industry or for the star's numerous appearances on the VH1 reality circuit, but a whole different audience will remember the name from the 2003 California recall election. As part of a publicity stunt, Carey ran for governor and ended up placing tenth out of a field of 135 candidates. She finished ahead of comedian Gallagher but behind former *Hustler* publisher Larry Flynt and actor Gary Coleman.
[Where to stream *After Porn Ends*]Photo: Getty Images

**Ron Jeremy**
**Mainstream roles:** *Crank: High Voltage, The Rules of Attraction, The Surreal Life*
Few people are more synonymous with porn than Ron Jeremy. Nicknamed "Hedgehog" for reasons that should be fairly obvious, the Long Island native earned the top spot in AVN's 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time list and has over 1,400 acting credits on IMDB. Outside of the adult entertainment industry, Jeremy served as a consultant on the 1997 film *Boogie Nights* and has appeared as himself in a number of Hollywood films.
[Where to stream *Rules of Attraction*]Photo: Getty Images

**Shu Qi**
**Mainstream roles:** *The Transporter, The Eye 2, The Assassin*
Before starring opposite Jason Statham in *The Transporter*, Qi starred in Hong Kong soft-core porn movies like *Viva Erotica* and *Sex & Zen II* and appeared in the Chinese edition of Playboy magazine. The Taiwan native's transition to mainstream movies has been well-received by critics as the actress captured the Best Actress honor at the Golden Horse Awards, which is regarded as the East Asian Oscars.
[Where to stream *The Transporter*]

**Traci Lords**
**Mainstream roles:** *Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Serial Mom, Cry-Baby*
In 1986, Lords was involved in a scandal that rocked the porn world when the FBI discovered she had been underage while making all but one of her adult films. Eventually, Lords left the industry and enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute to learn the craft of method acting. Her dedication paid off as she's enjoyed a prolific career in Hollywood starring in the above films as well as making guest appearances on shows like *Melrose Place*, *Married with Children*, and *Roseanne*.
[Where to stream *Zack and Miri Make a Porno*]Photo: Everett Collection

**Simon Rex**
**Mainstream roles:** *What I Like About You*, the *Scary Movie* franchise, *Felicity*
Before Simon Rex found mainstream success as an MTV VJ, he appeared in a number of solo masturbation scenes for a few straight-to-video pornographic films. In 1999, the former host transitioned into acting when he earned a supporting role on the WB series *Jack & Jill*. Rex's career would continue to flourish as he'd appear in a number of additional WB shows as well as becoming a fixture in the *Scary Movie* franchise.
[Where to stream *Scary Movie 3*]Photo: Everett Collection

Sunny Leone in Mostly Sunny on Netflix — Photo: Getty Images

**James Deen**
**Mainstream roles:** *The Canyons, Happyish*
Named 2009 Male Performer of the Year by AVN, James Deen has over 1,400 credits on his IMDB page, but none more notorious than the the 2013 erotic thriller *The Canyons.* Written by Bret Easton Ellis and starring Lindsay Lohan, Deen earned the role of Christian, an LA trust-fund kid with casual ties to Hollywood who spirals out of control when he learns of a secret affair.
[Where to stream *The Canyons*]Photo: Netflix

**Jenna Jameson**
**Mainstream roles:** *Private Parts, Zombie Strippers*
One time considered to be the most famous adult entertainer in the world, Jenna Jameson catapulted to the top of the porn industry during the mid-nineties. In 1996 she earned an unprecedented triple crown by taking home the XRCO Best New Starlet, the F.O.X.E. Video Vixen, and the AVN Best New Starlet awards. While best known for her work in the adult industry, Jameson has achieved mainstream success with roles in Howard Stern's *Private Parts*, Comedy Central's *Porn 'n Chicken*, and appearances in various professional wrestling promotions.
[Where to stream *Private Parts*]Photo: Everett Collection

**Nina Hartley**
**Mainstream roles:** *Boogie Nights, American Dummy*
Who can forget Nina Hartley's memorable performance as Little Bill's wife in *Boogie Nights*? A legend in the adult industry, Hartley is a sex-positive feminist who's probably one of the few human beings who can say that they appeared in a Tupac Shakur music video ("How Do U Want It?") and the *Oprah Winfrey Show*.
[Where to stream *Boogie Nights*]Photo: YouTube

Where to Stream:

Mostly Sunny

There’s no roadmap to achieving mainstream success in Tinseltown. Many aspiring actors go off to school and study their craft for years, while others just so happen to stumble into the entertainment business by happenstance. Johnny Depp got into acting as a way to make some quick cash while he pursued a career in music. Channing Tatum was famously a stripper before he was bitten by the acting bug. A young Josh Duhamel took one step into the city limits of Los Angeles and his piercing good looks set off the town’s super secret handsome person alarm, thus he was automatically given a movie contract on the spot.

Okay, I made that last one up, but you get my point.

As you can imagine, the velvet rope separating Anytown, USA and Hollywood are guarded by an enigmatic gatekeeper, which is why it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to discover that a number of porn stars have made the transition from the adult industry to mainstream theatrical success. From earning a starring role in an Academy Award-winning director’s film to becoming the most Googled celebrity in India, an abundance of adult entertainers have shifted from Spice to Starz.

Which stars transitioned from the bow chicka wow wow of the adult film industry to earn big screen success? Here are 10 porn stars who went mainstream.

Stream Mostly Sunny on Netflix