Exclusive Interview: Sunny Leone is Much More than Just a Pretty Face

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IESB: What made you decide to get into the adult industry?

Sunny: It just happened. I met an agent through a girl that I was going to school with, and I had no idea that it was an adult agency. And, that was it. He showed me some photos and we just shot some solo photos. We moved very, very slowly and he was really respectful. I liked it. It was fun.

IESB: Did you get comfortable on set pretty easily?

Sunny: The first time, I was very nervous and very scared. I remember one shot where the photographer wanted me to turn over and I kept saying, "No!" Finally, I did. There were about 25 people on set and there were six other girls shooting, and they were so comfortable with themselves, so I just took it in and it became natural, after that first day.

IESB: Had you ever considered mainstream modeling or acting before that?

Sunny: I tried seeing a couple of mainstream agents and people just didn't respond well to me, in the mainstream industry. It just wasn't the right time. I did a couple of mainstream things, but nothing major. And, Penthouse just came along and swooped me up.

IESB: Was there a point that you realized this could be a career that you could have your own company in?

Sunny: No, I had no idea. Each year changed so dramatically. Every year had new accomplishments and new surprises, for where my career went. Everything that was happening was all completely new, each year, and it still is.

IESB: What originally made you want to sign a contract with Vivid?

Sunny: I always wanted to shoot girl/girl and I felt like, if I was going to do it, I might as well go to the largest companies and see if they'd want to sign me as a contract girl. It wasn't something that was completely out of left-field for me to ask, but it hadn't been done in a really long time. The last girl/girl contract star with Vivid was Janine [Lindemulder]. So, I walked in and told Steve Hirsch what I wanted to do and, by the end of our conversation, he offered me a contract. It was easier than I thought it was going to be. I know it's not easy. It was great.

IESB: What made you decide to start working with men on film?

Sunny: One of the last girl/girl movies that I made was called The Sunny Experiment and one of the scenes in there was so hot that I was like, "I think I could do that, if it was like that." I told Vivid that, if they could accept the fact that I wanted to do it with my boyfriend, then it would be okay. I hadn't done anything like that, so Vivid was getting me doing boy/girl, but on my own terms, and they were thrilled.

IESB: How much of who you are on film is just a persona, and how much is who you really are?

Sunny: It's all real, it's just a heightened me. The camera turns on and we have a secret love affair.

Full interview