Visit the Official Website of Joanna Angel
Interview With Joanna Angel
Joanna Angel: Well, to make a long story short, when I was a senior in college I decided to start a porn site with my roommate, Mitch. It was a weird impulsive decision that never crossed my mind before, and neither myself nor Mitch had any relevant skills that were needed for the task. About 4 months later the site [www.BurningAngel.com] was launched. At the time, I had no friends who did porn or who ran porn companies (not many do in New York), so I had no set guidelines to follow. I didn’t know how other people made porn, so I just made it my way… and somehow, it caught on.
Q: Do you remember who your first scene was for and who you performed with? What was that experience like?
Joanna Angel: I’m not trying to shamelessly promote myself, but I wrote a very long and detailed account of my first porn experience on the insert of BurningAngel.com The Movie (my DVD featuring very first scene). To make a long story short, a series of location disasters forced us to resort to performing on friend’s rooftop in Brooklyn. It was the middle of the summer, and many of the building’s inhabitants (some turned out to be acquaintances of mine) were hanging out, bar-b-queing, and involving themselves in all sorts of other social activities. I contemplated calling the whole thing off after encountering the unexpected audience… but instead, I made their summer one they’ll never forget. It was one of the most petrifying but exhilarating experiences of my life. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Q: Do you do both guys and girls on film? Which do you prefer?
Joanna Angel: Yeah, I do both guys and girls. I can’t say which I prefer; I just like working with people I have a good chemistry with. I did a scene with Katrina Kraven, and that was pretty awesome. We had these little infatuations with each other for a while before that so it was pretty hot. I loved doing a webcam show with Belladonna- she’s so amazing. We “got along” really well.
Q: Sexually speaking, what is your favorite thing to do on camera? Do you have any fantasies you’d like to do on film that you haven’t had the opportunity to do yet?
Joanna Angel: Ahhhh… I don’t know. I’m so shy I can’t answer this. I guess, that would have to be the blowjob. Like, there is only so much originality a girl can display when she’s being fucked, but every girl gives a different blowjob. The way you suck dick is kinda like your trademark when you’re a girl performer. It’s your chance to really just like do your thing.
Q: What movies do you have coming out that fans should look forward to?
Joanna Angel: I directed and starred in a movie coming out on VCA next month called Joanna’s Angels (www.JoannasAngels.com). The movie is a big deal to me; it’s my very own company’s first release on a major studio. It sounds absurd for a porno but I really put my heart and soul into that thing. I really hope that men and women (I really want girls to enjoy this movie) can get aroused by the movie, without fast-forwarding through the plot. I have another movie coming out in January that I was so honored to be part of, coming out on Adam and Eve, titled House of Ass. It was directed by Tristan Taormino, one of my favorite people in the world. Also, I will be in my alt-porn contemporary’s next release, Kill Girl Kill 3. I’ve got a bunch of great stuff coming out over the next few months…. so be on the look out for Joanna movies!
Q: What are your interests and/or hobbies in your free time?
Joanna Angel: Free time? What’s that?! Hmmm…. Well when I’m not working on my website, I like driving around New York and listening to music really loud and singing along (with the windows up of course). It’s a good thing none of you can hear it. I love to write ridiculous stories about my life in my blog, and I like it even more when people read them. I like to read books, clean my bathroom, cook, go to the movies with my sister, and take walks in Central Park. I like sitting on my rooftop at night, I love giving people advice (I’m very good at it for some reason), and throwing parties that people dance and go crazy at.
Q: How much longer to you plan to stay in the industry? If you didn’t do this for a living, what would you be doing…or what would you like to attempt?
Joanna Angel: Oh man, I don’t know. I’ll be here until no one wants me here anymore. You’ll have to force me out! I have no idea what I’d be doing… I’d probably go to grad school. I’d still like to do that one day, and I’m sure I will.
Early life
Angel was born in Boston, Massachusetts to an Orthodox Jewish Israeli mother and an American father. She was raised in River Edge in Bergen County, New Jersey, where she attended Cherry Hill Elementary School and graduated from River Dell High School in 1998. After graduating at age 17 she enrolled in Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a minor in Film Studies.
She worked in a Jewish fast food restaurant during high school, then at an Applebees and another restaurant, called Happy’s Health Grille during college.
After finishing her degree she relocated to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York and created the website BurningAngel, a hardcore adult site catering to an emerging genre dubbed “alt porn” while she danced as a stripper at night. Her website followed in the footsteps of the very popular SuicideGirls — which she referred to as “the McDonald’s of alt porn,”. When asked whether she thought that alt porn was turning into a movement she stated “I think it’s a movement. I think I’ve started something.”
Career
Joanna has written, produced, directed and starred in films available exclusively through BurningAngel, as well as appearing in more traditionally distributed adult films. She was under an exclusive contract with VCA Pictures which expired in March 2007, and was, at one time, represented by the adult talent agency Bad Ass Models.
Due to the success of BurningAngel, Angel has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, including an article written in The New York Times. She was nominated in 2006 for the AVN Awards for both “Best New Starlet” and “Best Actress”, and although she won neither, she did take home the award for “Most Outrageous Sex Scene” for her appearance in Re-Penetrator.
She briefly wrote a monthly sexual-advice column for Spin. She also contributed a chapter to the book Naked Ambition: Women Pornographers and How They Are Changing the Sex Industry.
She is a nominee for the 2009 AVN Award for The Jenna Jameson Crossover Star of the Year.
Awards
- 2006 AVN Award – Most Outrageous Sex Scene – Re-Penetrator (with Tommy Pistol)
- 2008 XRCO Award – Best On-Screen Chemistry (with James Deen)
- 2008 AVN Award – Best Specialty Release, Other Genre – Cum on My Tattoo 3 by Burning Angel Entertainment
