Sasha Grey Follow

Sasha Grey (born Marina Ann Hantzis; March 14, 1988) is an American former pornographic actress who has since crossed over as a mainstream actress, model, author and musician. Sasha Grey first made her name in mainstream media after appearing on several popular television programs and in pop culture magazines examining her willingness to enter the world of hardcore porn at such a young age. Sasha Grey has also been featured in music videos and advertising campaigns. Sasha Grey won numerous awards between 2007 and 2010, including the AVN Female Performer of the Year Award in 2008. After her feature film debut as the lead in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience, she shifted her focus to mainstream acting. Sasha Grey starred in the black comedy/horror film Smash Cut, and played a semi-fictionalized version of herself in the seventh season of the HBO television series Entourage. She has also appeared in independent films, such as I Melt With You. Sasha Grey is a former member of aTelecine, an industrial music band. In May 2006, Grey moved to Los Angeles and began appearing in adult films just after turning 18. Originally she toyed with the name Anna Karina, taken after the French New Wave actress, before deciding on her present name. The name "Sasha" was taken from Sascha Konietzko of the band KMFDM, and "Grey" represents Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Her first scene was an orgy with Rocco Siffredi for The Fashionistas 2 by John Stagliano. Sasha Grey quickly made a name for herself in the business after she asked Siffredi to punch her in the stomach; however, she later stated that she was improvising and it was taken out of context. In January 2007, Grey was the recipient of awards for "Best Three Way Sex Scene" and "Best Group Scene" at the AVN Adult Movie Awards. She was also nominated as "Best New Starlet", but lost to Naomi. Grey was named Penthouse magazine Pet of The Month for July 2007 and was photographed by fashion photographer Terry Richardson. In 2008, Sasha Grey became the youngest person to win the AVN "Female Performer of the Year" award and "Best Oral Sex Scene". Grey formerly represented herself in the adult industry through her own agency, L.A. Factory Girls. Grey has indicated particular appreciation for the work of Andrew Blake and Kimberly Kane. A. O. Scott of The New York Times described her pornographic career as "distinguished both by the extremity of what she is willing to do and an unusual degree of intellectual seriousness about doing it." In 2009, Sasha Grey was voted number 1 on Genesis magazine's 11th annual edition of its "Porn's Hot 100" issue.