This is the cover story of the February 2020 edition of AVN magazine. Click here to see the full digital edition.
LOS ANGELES—Abigail Mac surprised herself as she climbed the ranks in adult entertainment.
“I think what I’ve learned most about myself in this industry is I’m a much stronger woman than I ever thought I was," Mac says.
“I can push myself to limits that I never knew were even possible. This industry makes me feel like a superhero.
"It makes me feel like I can do anything that I set my mind to.”
She proves it all the time.
Armed with a rare package of looks, charisma, drive and professionalism, the native of Baltimore has soared to the highest levels of porn in the past eight years, capturing hundreds of thousands of fans along the way.
The 2016 AVN Award-winner for Best Boy/Girl Sex Scene and Best Tease has amassed more than 550 credits since her debut in 2012, performing for every major studio on multiple occasions while racing to 2.2 million-plus followers on Instagram and another 509K on Twitter. As the new decade begins Mac without question stands among the most popular porn stars in the world.
But perhaps more impressive is how Mac has earned the admiration of her industry peers for what they describe as unwavering positivity, natural business savvy and enormous talent.
“She's one of the actresses that I consider a muse,” says Kayden Kross, the 2019 AVN Director of the Year and creator of Deeper.com. “There are a few women I would shoot on repeat and never tire of coming up with new concepts for them because they just spark the ideas simply by being themselves.”
Kross, who first shot Mac for her TrenchcoatX venture, turned to her again in late 2019 to appear on her blossoming, eight-month-old Deeper.com. That’s not to mention their spectacular 2018 collaboration, Abigail, a glittering star showcase in which Kross directed Mac in her first anal and double-penetration sex scenes for a project that entailed 13 days on the set.
“My crew in particular adores her because she makes their job easy,” Kross tells AVN. “She hits her marks, knows her lines, and understands where the camera and lights are.”
Kross adds, “I always make her the aggressor because so few women can do it with the sort of control that she can do it with. That quiet and deadly power she delivers with looks and mannerisms is my absolute favorite thing to write for.”
The Hall of Fame performer/producer points to Mac’s DP as “the moment I most remember with Abigail and which I think most sums her up.”
“We were many days into the project and she'd been in the makeup chair at 4 a.m.,” Kross explains. “She was working with Prince Yahshua and Jax Slayher, who are a pair of extremely well-endowed performers, and I'd put her in the back of a truck for the hardcore.
“We'd been shooting that scene for an hour and we had everything we needed. I was thrilled with it; we had more time than we needed and it was time for the pop.
“She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and then insisted we get a little more because she wanted to give it one last push. I always know with her that she has given everything she had to give. She stops and checks to make sure there's nothing more she can do before we wrap a scene.
“You can see it in the way she cares for her body, the way she follows up, her general professionalism—she doesn't stop until she knows that she's delivered an honest best.
“I would bet on her again and again and again because there is no risk in putting my energy into her. She's a perfect example of how to run your career as a female performer and always balances protecting her interests and delivering her performances with grace.”
Veteran Brazzers shot-caller Brett Brando knows Mac as well as any director in adult—he has shot her at least 25 times in recent years, calling her “my go-to performer when I have an idea for a scene that demands a performer that’ll go the extra mile.”
He summarizes why he keeps asking Mac to come back with a word that often comes up when talking about the former waitress at Cheesecake Factory: “professionalism.”
“She shows up on time, has an understanding of the script and what’s expected of her well before she arrives on set; she’s drama free and, most importantly, she really cares about doing a great scene,” Brando tells AVN. “She’s not one that just goes through the motions and does just enough to get by. She’s 100 percent from the moment I say ‘action’ to the time I say ‘cut.’”
Brando continues, “We all know she is one of the top five performers in the industry. Now she’s writing her own scripts. I recently shot a scene ‘Til Assassins Do Us Part’ for Brazzers that she co-wrote and starred in, and she nailed it! Abigail will soon complete the porn trifecta: performer, writer, and director. Versatility personified.”
Ryan Hogan, who is the product director for pay-sites services and also oversees content acquisition for Brazzers, explains that Mac has become a bankable draw on the adult mega-site because “Abigail has proven herself again and again as a consummate professional in our industry.”
“With over 50 scenes on Brazzers alone, it’s no surprise that she still manages to be one of the most requested performers by our members,” Hogan tells AVN. “Abigail is known for her ability to bring an incredible chemistry and vibe that always brings a shoot to the next level.
“Whether she’s starring in a blockbuster feature, showcase or a standalone scene, you know Abigail will be bringing an unmatched performance to the table every time.”
Speaking of companies where Mac holds down a regular shift, at press time she had racked up 89 videos on the Netflix-style Adult Time platform, which is curated by chief creative officer Bree Mills.
“And we regularly work with her across our different studios,” Mills tells AVN. “She is a fan favorite at Girlsway, where she has shot 65 of her episodes, and has also starred in very provocative featurettes for Pure Taboo this past year.”
Mills says Mac time and again demonstrates how she can move smoothly between acting and sex performances.
“She can go from heart wrenching to hilarious from one episode to the next and our viewers particularly love her work within the lesbian genre,” Mills continues. “On set, she is a consummate professional. Always fun to work with, gets along with every talent and crew member, and brings a great energy to every shoot she is on, even those days that run long!
“When you book her for a role, there is never any doubt that she's going to be fantastic. I think that positive energy and leadership as a talent really translates into her final performances.”
Mac landed a prominent supporting role in one of Mills’ biggest features to date, Perspective, which at press time was nominated for eight AVN Awards, including Best Drama, and was widely considered a serious contender for Movie of the Year. In the mind-bending thriller, Mac plays Lena, who is the best friend of the lead character Jennifer (Angela White) after they met in a support group.
“My role was kind of Angela’s protector,” Mac says. “Angela and Seth [Gamble] are in this marriage that’s falling apart.
“So that is my role through the whole thing, I’m getting her out of the house. I’m protecting her. I’m making sure she’s OK in meetings. I’m like her knight in shining armor.”
Mac shares an intimate liaison with White.
“We have a beautiful sex scene but it’s not like an industry sex scene. It’s just about like protection and love and admiration and being close; and her being able to enjoy herself without feeling like she’s being put down by this person because all the sex that she’s had has been in such an abusive relationship,” Mac says.
“Finally she meets somebody that just loves her for who she is and wants to be with her and wants to make her feel good. So I’m kind of just this white light in this very dark situation.”
Mills says after seeing how Mac owned several twisted roles for Pure Taboo in the past year she was confident in her dramatic acting abilities.
"I also thought that Angela and her would play off of each other very well within their roles in Perspective, which called for a great amount of tenderness during a very chaotic and emotional setting,” Mills says. “The lesbian sex scene they share is probably one of the most vulnerable and beautiful scenes I have ever shot and it was all because of their chemistry and, in particular, how Abigail's character took such great care of Angela during the film.”
Mac has performed with the 2019 AVN Best Actor Seth Gamble so many times that she jokingly calls him her “industry husband.”
“I just did a feature for Adam & Eve and it was for [director] Skye Blue. It was me, Aidra Fox, Seth Gamble… I feel like me and Seth Gamble always work together. I text Seth, ‘Hey industry husband, we’re working together again!’ I see him all the time,” she says.
“But we just did a movie. It was like Chicago. It’s about these dancers and they murder their husbands and they go to jail and they try to go, ‘Oh, we didn’t do it.’ So my character was obsessed with Charlotte Stokely—who was like the main dancer—and she allegedly kills her husband because he was sleeping with her sister.
“She gets pulled out of the dance club. And then I go home—I’ve been married six weeks—I walk in and I find my husband fucking my best friend. And I stab both of them to death but I didn’t do it; I’m innocent. And so Seth is a hotshot lawyer who I have sex with and I’m like, ‘You have to get me out.’”
Gamble tells AVN, “Every time I’m on set with Abigail I know I’m going to have an amazing day filled with fun, laughter and the best of vibes.”
“Getting the opportunity to perform with Abigail are always some of the best days I get to have coming to work,” Gamble continues. “She has it all—passion, ferocity and because we’ve worked together for such a good amount of time, a la my porn wife. I can’t ask for a better dance partner.
“When it comes to where Abigail is at in her career, in my humble opinion I feel that Abigail is the prototype of how any performer can build such a successful career. She inspires me with her work ethic and passion.”
Whether she is headlining a feature or commanding the screen in a gonzo throw-down, Mac continues to be as close to a sure thing as it gets in porn. It’s why AVN Hall of Fame director Jules Jordan also keeps her on speed dial.
Jordan cast Mac in two volumes of his powerhouse series Dredd (2 & 6) as well as tabbed her for Flesh Hunter 13, Mandingo Massacre 10 and Lex the Impaler 9 for starters.
“Abigail is one of the sexiest ladies in the industry,” Jordan tells AVN. “She’s extremely professional but she turns into a sex machine and it’s incredible to see the transformation. She’s definitely one of my favorites.”
Fellow AVN Hall of Fame shooter Toni Ribas, who directs for Brazzers, Reality Kings and Mofos, tells AVN that no matter what he asks Mac to do she always delivers.
“I’ve had the pleasure of shooting Abigail many times and she’s always such a pleasure to have on set,” Ribas says. “Not only is she stunningly beautiful but she’s super professional and most of all, goofy and funny. It’s always good times with her on set personally and work wise.”
Ribas continues, “My most recent shots with her have been [in November]—an ASMR scene for Reality Kings. She was amazing, getting everyone in the ASMR mood before a great boy/girl scene with Charles Dera.
“And [in December] a girl/girl scene for Brazzers’ Hot & Mean with Kendra Spade—a super hot scene. On Kendra’s words afterwards, it was her ‘best girl/girl scene ever’ so yeah, Abigail is awesome!”
Mac credits Holly Randall, the seasoned glamour photographer and director, with teaching her how to position her body in photos early in her career.
“The only reason I know how to pose is because of Holly Randall,” Mac says. “She told me ‘elegant hands, point your toes, arch your back’ and that’s the only reason I know how to do those things.
“Holly tells me now, ‘You’re so easy to shoot.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, because I started with you.’ She’s like, ‘Oh, that’s sweet.’ And I’m like, ‘Well it’s true.’”
Mac reunited with Randall for a Twistys shoot in late 2019.
“I've shot Abigail numerous times—the actual number escapes me but it's a significant one,” Randall tells AVN. “Abigail Mac is one of the most authentic, kindest, and funniest girls in our industry. She's beautiful and sexy, but also refuses to take herself too seriously. It's that intoxicating mix of sultriness and goofiness that makes her so incredibly popular with her fans and colleagues alike.”
Randall continues, “She’s done an amazing job with careful decisions that have supported a strong and illustrious career. But she's also wary enough to produce and sell her own content, which keeps her financially independent and allows her freedom in choosing her roles.
“On set she's amazing—always on time, professional and such a delight to work with. It's impossible to have a bad day when you're working with Abigail Mac.”
The leader of #TeamFuzzyBlanket continues to be one of the most congenial stars in the business—a jokester and prankster who on one Brazzers set in December cracked a raw egg on Whitney Wright’s head and posted it on her Instagram story.
Mac likes to “get weird” on most days, including during her AVN cover shoot with Keith Ryan.
“We had so much fun and it didn’t feel like work,” Mac says. “He had ideas. I had ideas. Everybody came together. I use this hashtag a lot, which is really cheesy, but #TeamworkMakestheDreamWork.
“And it was just like everybody was a huge team, which was awesome. … I remember we got done and I was like, ‘Can we just do this everyday? Can this just be our job?’”
Mac allows her sunny personality to shine throughout her industry travels, talking about attitude a lot with people “because I didn’t always use to be positive.”
“I always was a very outgoing and would follow the good side of things usually, but it took a lot of work and I tell people I’m very selfish,” Mac says. “And when I say that I’m very selfish, I’m very selfish with who I am as a person and what I do in my personal life.
“I try to live a life outside of work that makes me happy every single day. What really helped me is cancelling cable, not paying attention to mainstream media as much as I used to. And just waking up and going, ‘What do I want to do today that’s going to make me happy?’ I want to go out in the sunshine. I want to swim around in the pool like I was 6 years old and tire myself out. I want to eat a burrito today. What are some things that I’m really going to enjoy?”
Now she says with the life she has created “this is like a staycation everyday.”
“I love the way I live. I live in California. That’s already like, ‘Wow, how many people get to experience this life?’ I can be in the sunshine everyday. I get to come home to a man who loves me. I have a little fuzzy cat that just wants to cuddle with me all the time,” Mac continues.
“I feel like I’m so lucky to have the life that I do and a lot of people will never be able to experience that. And a lot of people have it way worse than I do. Like even on your bad days, it’s not that bad. Life is a gift; we should be grateful every single day. And I think holding onto that really helps me to stay a positive person.”
Mac also expresses her gratitude every chance she gets, pointing to her colleagues who have given her opportunities.
“When I think about where I’m at now I feel incredibly lucky and incredibly grateful,” she says. “I’m only in the position I am now because of the directors and the producers and the companies decided to hire me.
"And it’s not only that but it’s my fans going on all these forums and they’re going on the website and giving me a thumbs-up and giving me a comment. This is the reason why I’m working so much. It’s because of the fans and it’s because of these directors that I’ve created these bonds with that want to bring me back. And I owe my entire career to these people.
“Because yes, I can go and I can do the best that I can but without the support backing me I wouldn’t have a career, you know. So I’m very grateful to my fans, my #FuzzyCrew. I love them so much.”
Mac says that establishing her brand has given her the freedom to create her own content that supplements her income.
“So by having all this work in the industry it’s allowed me to branch out. And I tell everyone—and they’re like, ‘The ’90s were the greatest time in porn.’ Well I wasn’t around in the ’90s because I was a child, however I do think that today is the greatest day to be in the industry,” Mac reasons.
“It is incredible as a performer to come in—I think a director, too, depending on how you want to take your career.
“But you can do scenes; you can sit at home and turn on a webcam. You could have sex with your husband or your wife and put it on the internet and people will watch it. You can do so many different things in this industry to make money that you never have to do anything that you don’t want to do.
"You can make money in so many different ways on so many different platforms that you can live however you want to and you can create however you want to. And I’m so lucky that my brand is big enough to sustain that as well.
“I feel like every single year in this industry just gets better and better and better. It is the Golden Age of Porn right now. It’s amazing.”
Whether it’s her male or female co-stars, her director, the PA or the makeup artist, Mac connects with them on a personal level. She has a knack for relating to others and can recall specific anecdotes about numerous industry associates.
But she wasn’t always this in tune with herself. In fact Mac found out what kind of person she is in the adult industry.
“When I grew up with my parents I wasn’t taught to be an entrepreneur. I wasn’t taught to be myself, to be my own person, to take control of my life,” Mac explains, adding that adult has empowered her to take charge of her own future.
“It’s taught me that I can live however I want to live and I can support myself. If I work hard and I’m consistent I can have the life that I’ve always dreamt of. … This industry has changed my life. It has saved my life. I tell everybody that I would not be in this situation if I wasn’t here.”
Mac continues, “I waited tables before. I wasn’t into school; I went to college—in and out—and I was always disappointed; I always felt like this isn’t for me. I never found a career path where I was like, ‘Oh I love this, this is my passion. This is what I want to do.’ And then being in the industry I was like, ‘This is right.’ This is what I want to do. I love it. I love entertaining people. I love sex; I love modeling; I love having fun; I love meeting new people. This is what I wanted to do; I just didn’t know it.
“I didn’t know who I was before. I was lost before and the industry found me and it took me in. I created a little family.
“And now I’m able to live my best life.”
Mac grew up in Ellicott City, Md.—about a half hour from Baltimore—with her mom until she was in “fifth or sixth” grade. She describes herself as “real quiet, really shy” with just a few friends in her neighborhood. She didn’t grow up with money.
“I wore a lot of my brother’s old jeans, hand-me downs and things. My mom was a single mom and she struggled for a really long time,” Mac says.
“And so I remember feeling embarrassed a lot. I remember feeling just really shy. I remember one time I was at a cookout and someone offered me a brownie and I hid behind my mom because I was afraid to say anything. But I wanted a brownie.”
It wasn’t until middle school that she started to come out of her shell.
“My parents moved me to Montana when I was 12 years old. That’s when I really started to branch out. I had got into this school and I didn’t know anybody so I was kind of forced to make friends,” Mac recalls. “And I remember I was like, well, I’m here. I’m going to try to make some new friends and maybe I’ll join a group or something like that. And when I got into seventh grade I tried out for cheerleading. And I started doing more sports and I started having a lot of friends.”
She didn’t like high school in Billings despite having “an amazing group of friends.” Mac’s best friend in high school went to Oregon for college, but Mac stayed in town and attended Montana State University-Billings for a semester.
“And I remember her calling me. I was going, ‘I hate it up here. I got in a fight with my roommate and I’m gonna move out. I don’t want to live by myself. I’m not having a good time. And I went, I’ll just come out there and live with you,’” Mac says. “‘I’ll just come to college and I’ll come out there.’ And in two weeks I packed up all my stuff, quit my job and I moved to Eugene, Oregon, with my best friend.
“I was in Eugene I think for three or four years and then I moved up to Portland because I wanted to live in a bigger city. I think Portland’s right under a million, but Eugene was probably 150,000-250,000 people. It’s just a college town. And then I was in Portland for another three or four years.
“When I was in Portland, I was in and out of college and I was waiting tables, hating everything. Hated my job.”
She served food at both Outback Steakhouse and Cheesecake Factory.
“And then at Cheesecake I was in a position where I taught people, ‘This is how we do things here,’” Mac says. “So like in every position I always did a really good job, even if I didn’t like the job I was doing I was always at the top. If I’m going to do something I’m going to do it right.
“If they’re paying me I always felt the obligation to do the best job that I can. And I’m still like that. If I go on set I’m like I need to be the best version of myself at all times, even if I don’t like it. Someone’s paying me to be here. So I just feel obligated to do a good job.
"And so they trusted me enough so all the new employees would have to go through me. There was like four or five of us who were the trainers at Cheesecake Factory.”
Now Mac says when it comes to thinking about 2020 and beyond, “I’m gonna keep on truckin’.”
“I don’t want to leave yet. I’m not ready to go,” she says. “A lot of people say you can only be in this industry for this long. Or you’re only supposed to stay in it for this long. And I haven’t felt that. I haven’t felt a dip in my career. I haven’t felt like it’s going downhill or anything.”
It’s quite the opposite.
"Every year it gets better. Every year I’m more proud of this industry because I feel like they’re taking steps to be a better industry to be in. And so I’m going to continue to do scenes and a lot more content creation—create my own content. Because I have so many ideas,” Mac adds.
“I just invested in my first property here in L.A. and I hope to pick up a few more in the coming years. Invest more of my money in other ways, too. I just want to build an empire.
“I want to make it easy so I can wake up every day and be like, you know I don’t really have to do anything today if I don’t want to. But if I feel inspired, then I will. So I want to just keep on creating the future that I want to live.”
Photography by Keith Ryan
