Porn Star, Director, Wife, Mother: The Renaissance Woman Dana Vespoli

By Troy Michael

In an industry where the average age of a girl to start working is 20-years-old or younger, it is relatively rare for a woman to enter the adult film industry when most women are retiring from the industry.

The gorgeous Dana Vespoli came into the porn business when she was 30-years-old after earning Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from Mills College. In between college and her porn life, Vespoli worked as a stripper in the San Francisco bay area under the name Christa and also had a job at Playboy TV in spring 2003, This, combined with her love for sex led her into making adult films.

Now, nearly 200 films later and a dozen films as a director (she was named Directrix of the Year at the Adam Film World Guide Awards in 2007,) the half-Irish half-Thai black-haired beauty is married to the adult industry’s leading man Manuel Ferrara (married in January 2005) and the couple welcomed their first child last year.

I had a chance to sit down over two days with the former co-captain of the Varsity Rowing at Mills College to talk about motherhood, the marriage of two porn stars and alien abductions. 

Congratulations on all your success and the new addition to the family.

Well, thank you.

Are you still performing or are you leaning more toward directing now?

I still perform in a couple movies now and then, usually ones I shoot. I will perform with other people and companies, but I am real picky with what I do now. I am fortunate because I am in a situation where I don’t need to work, but I still can if I want to.

That’s pretty nice considering more girls your age have a hard time finding work in the industry now.

Yes, I know. I have been blessed with youthful looks I suppose. I mean when I came into this industry I didn’t know what to expect and a few of my first films were teen oriented, which I haven’t been a teen in forever.

Why did you come into this business a decade after most girls do now?

I came in late because I had a whole life prior to doing porn. It was a very an off-the-wall decision. It wasn’t because I needed to get out of a bad place or away from abuse or family or anything like that. I’ve been a fan of porn since I was 12-years-old, I mean I used to watch the old films from Caberello when I was a kid, so I have always been fascinated by sex.

            When I was in high school there was an adult theatre near my house and I would go in there. God, looking back on it, the owner must have been a pervert, because he gave me quarters so I could go into the booths.

            Then I started dancing at in the college and I met Nina Hartley along with a few other performers. I moved to Southern California to do some print ads and production work on Playboy TV.  I kept meeting performers and we’d talk about stars and movies, and they would ask me why I wasn’t in the business because I knew more about it than they did. So I did a couple of scenes and liked it.

You mentioned being a dancer and working at Playboy, before that did you ever have any “day jobs?”

I went to a performing arts school and I was a dancer (not a stripper) for a long time. I did some modeling and acting in television commercials, then I realized I wasn’t 18 anymore and in that business you have to be realistic. I wanted to stay in the business of theatre and acting because the work is much more consistent behind the scenes.

Was it difficult at a later age to make the choice to go into porn?

At 28 I was doing teen commercials so I don’t look my age and I can pass young off easily, so getting work in adult films wasn’t too hard for me.

Have you always been a sexual person?

I have a big big libido. It’s kind of tough because there are periods where it gets in the way because it’s that one track mind thing. To be honest, I consider myself a feminist and I felt some guilt getting into porn and dancing. I went to an all-girls college and they were into feminism so I am sure some of my classmate would be horrified if they knew what I am doing.

            Being in the porn business, I have never felt more in love with my body and myself in my life. The flesh is celebrated with tits and asses and whatever in this industry compared to when I was dancing in school - it was like a dieting meat market there and everyone made you feel ugly.

Now you have evolved into a director to make others feel beautiful. Does directing allow you more creativity than performing?

Yes more so even. Above all else I think I am a voyeur and the shooting is more satisfying for me. Don’t get me wrong, the performing is great, but now I can orchestrate things and be the eye of it all.

You are fairly new to directing. What would you consider your style is compared to others?

I am all about the ambience. I am not one of those pro-am directors who just show up, film on a couch and be done with it. I like to make sure the little things get noticed. I try to make it beautiful looking around the hardcore sex.

Have you ever directed Manuel?

He did a scene with me in a movie I directed, but he won’t work for me. It’s one of those boundary things. He thinks it would be uncomfortable and awkward. And honestly it sucks because he‘s so good at what he does.

Is it hard for two porn stars to be married?

We have struggled with jealousy but we have good communication to get over that. It’s a wonderful but challenging thing being in any marriage. But add to that the business, which is hard on a relationship to begin with.

I am very devoted and very much a monogamous person. I know that sounds weird coming from a girl in porn, but when I am in a relationship I am focusing all my energy into that relationship. I think with Manuel we have a history and a future. We are both mature adults with a passionate love. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.

He has done very well for himself and it seems everyone loves working with him. Is there ever any jealousy toward awards or press between you two?

No not at all, I am proud as hell of what he has done.

You both are known for your hardcore sex on films, Is your sex life at home similar to your sex life on camera?

Since we had our son the time to have sex is definitely cherished, I’ll say that. It’s more about being together, feeling each other and taking time for each other.

But there are times we just want to fuck and then there are times we just make love. Sometimes we will just sit on the couch and make out because we love to do that. I love making out, I know it may sound weird, but it is such an intimate act it turns me on.

Also there are times when we will just have anal sex because I am pretty tight and as many people know Manuel is pretty damn big. So it is easier for us just to have anal sex than bother with having him trying to get in my pussy.

I am sure your fans are salivating right now. With being in porn and directing in porn, what is your biggest fetish?

I love the arm pits. I like the natural smells, I like licking them, and I love the musky and earthy smell. I am also an ass freak and I also have a weird fetish for medical equipment.

You mean like anal probes?

Yeah, I used to have alien abduction fantasies. I am also completely submissive and I love to be dominated.