The Return of Porn Legend and Hall of Famer Debi Diamond

By Troy Michael

Driving down the 405 Highway in California, XRCO and AVN Hall of Famer and legitimate porn legend, Debi Diamond, is on her way to San Diego to do a bachelor party with long-time friend and former porn star, Tami Ann.

Diamond is in slow moving rush-hour traffic, but that doesn’t slow down her conversation skills. If you know anything about Diamond, she is passionate and energetic in her scenes and her conversations are just as compelling. Sipping a sugar free Rock Star Energy Drink, the blonde beauty is nervous about traffic, but excited about fucking Tami Ann in front of a bunch of horny guys.

She talks and talks, and then talks some more. We share laughs and our deep love for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder. She tells me stories that come like tornados from her mouth and fall on my perked ears. Story after story has the passion she is known for. They may not sit well with some, like her lack of respect for the girls in the industry who are only “money making machines” or the fact that AVN has become “laughable.”

However, the few negative comments that spew from her mouth are more than balanced by the positive sexual energy she exudes. Diamond, now 43, has a memory like a steel trap. She might not remember every title of the film that she has been in, but she can remember just about every scene she has done and with whom.

Diamond grew up in an entertainment family and she appeared in several 1970-1980s television shows like the “Fall Guy”, “Dukes of Hazard” and “Air Wolf”. She says she got tired of the song and dance of trying to get a real part in mainstream. On a whim, Diamond, along with a friend, answered a Jim South modeling advertisement.

Diamond got hired for a photo shoot, but her friend didn’t. And the rest is history. Her first photo shoot was with the legendary Suze Randall. One of Diamond’s first boy girl scenes was in San Fernando Valley Girls with Paul Thomas and Joey Silvera. Her first girl on girl scene was with the late Shauna Grant in All American Girls in Heat. They had a lot of laughs, tore up some hotel rooms, and a few weeks after the scene Grant was dead.

Diamond went on to perform in over 400 porn films and is still known as the wildest and nastiest porn actress in the business. She won multiple awards, became a hall of fame member and retired in 1994.

Now nearly 15 years later, Diamond is back in the business. While moving at a snail’s pace in the California traffic, I had the chance to talk with Debi Diamond and ask her about the comeback, her legacy and being an admitted sex addict.

Why did you decide to make a comeback film?

OK, it really wasn’t a plan, this comeback thing. In fact, a few months ago, I had no intention of being in front of the camera, ever again. But, (and I don't want to sound silly), I felt that I wanted to at least try. At 43, I wanted to see if the desire and insane intensity I had always felt still burned inside me—and, it does.

What do you think of the porn industry now?

I think with the Internet everything has changed, from porn to music, everything must adjust to technology. It's just a direction, and as far as I’m concerned, the freedom is awesome. Freedom has always been important to me, to do, to say, to share. The Internet gives you freedom, and I love that.

Looking back on your career thus far, would you do anything different?

About the only thing I would have done differently is take care of my business better. And by that I mean own my name Debi Diamond. It is hard because people are using my name, impersonating me and making money off my name. Back then, I never ever thought about that. Now, I see websites and fan clubs claiming to be me. I am here to say, I have one mailing address, MySpace page, and website that is all me. And right now, I am retaining attorneys to help me shut down these people making money off my name. It is no fun.

As far as anything else I would change in the business, I was always true, sincere, honest, and I loved what I did. I am finding out that I still do.

What are the biggest misconceptions of the adult film business?

Well, I think a lot of young people assume it is an easy way to sex it up. It is, but, there is responsibility along with it, especially the men. There is lots of pressure and you must do or die (staying hard) as a male actor. Girls have it much easier.

What do you think qualifies a girl to be legitimate porn "star?"

In my opinion, you have to love sex, really love sex. Nothing turns me on more than watching a girl who really loves what she's doing. It's so honest and sexy.

How does it feel when people call you a porn legend or icon?

I look behind me, to see who they are talking to. Really, it just blows me away. I am just now finding out the impact I had on people and it is just amazing.