Hartley was born to a Jewish family and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.[3] She is the youngest of four children,[4] with an older sister and two older brothers.[1] Her parents converted to Buddhism when she was young.[5] After graduating high school in 1977,[4] she attended San Francisco State University's undergraduate nursing school and graduated magna cum laude in 1985. She is a registered nurse.[3]
In 1982, during her sophomore year of nursing school, she started working as a stripper at Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater.[3]
She made her foray into the world of pornographic movies during her junior year, in 1984. Her debut performance was in the film Educating Nina, which was produced by the veteran porn star Juliet Anderson (better known as "Aunt Peg"), and this proved to be a massive hit. Since then she has gone on to feature in over 400 first-run adult films, and has become one of the most enduring and recognizable performers in the industry.
She said in an interview that she chose the name "Nina" because it was easy for Japanese tourists to say during the time she was a dancer in San Francisco. She chose "Hartley" because she liked the popular camera commercials Mariette Hartley was making with James Garner at the time.
Politically, Hartley considers herself a liberal and an outspoken sex-positive feminist.[6] Addressing other women, she said "Sex isn't something men do to you. It isn't something men get out of you. Sex is something you dive into with gusto and like it every bit as much as he does." Hartley has been an advocate for the adult film industry's right to exist, and, before the rise to stardom of Jenna Jameson, had often been called on when television news programs and talk shows required an articulate, leading adult film actress to support the pro side. She appeared most notably on The Oprah Winfrey Show with fellow porn actress Ona Zee. The two came under hard scrutiny from the mostly female audience, but refused to back down and were outspoken in their support of the industry. She and Ona Zee also spoke out strongly against illegal drugs in the industry.
She was interviewed for Wendy McElroy's 1995 book XXX: A Woman's Right to Pornography. She relates how she was arrested in 1993 in Las Vegas, along with 10 other adult stars (later known as the "Erotic Eleven"), for having performed a lesbian show at an adult video industry fundraiser; an undercover police officer was present in the audience. Threatened with six to 12 years in prison for felony lesbianism and pandering, she was eventually allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor.[7]
In addition to her more traditional roles in porn films, she has also produced, directed, and starred in a series of Guide to... films covering the entire sexual spectrum, from basic sexual intercourse and foreplay, to anal sex and bondage.
Hartley crossed over into mainstream Hollywood with an appearance in the 1997 film Boogie Nights, in which she played William H. Macy's serially unfaithful wife. She also appeared in the 1996 Canadian film Bubbles Galore.[8]
Hartley is openly bisexual in her private life,[9] and had what has been described as the longest stable relationship in the adult business, living in a ménage à trois with her husband Dave (whom she met when she was 19), and "wife" Bobby Lilly for 20 years. Hartley has since left that relationship, saying "I was too immature and he was too possessive. It didn't work... It ended up ending because it was the wrong three people involved."[10] She has since married Ira Levine (aka Ernest Greene), a director of porn films, particularly BDSM films[11]. They sometimes work together, as in The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, directed by Tristan Taormino and Greene, and O: the Power of Submission, directed by Greene. In both of these films, Hartley plays supporting roles.
Hartley does not have any children due to a combination of a lack of interest and fibroid tumors,[4] though she does have eight nieces and nephews.[1]
Porn actor Lexington Steele stated in an interview in 2001 that sex with Nina Hartley was undoubtedly the best sex he has ever had.[12]
Hartley remains active as of 2008. Appearing primarily in "mature"-themed pornography, she also has a line of "instructional" videos which are marketed under the "Nina Hartley's Guide" brand.[13] In 2006 she published her first book Nina Hartley's Guide to Total Sex.[14]
On October 3, 2008, Hustler announced that Hartley would play the part of Hillary Rodham Clinton in their film Who's Nailin' Paylin?, a pornographic parody of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin with Lisa Ann in the role of Palin.
key words:
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