LOS ANGELES—"What started me in the adult industry was curiosity," Sarah Vandella says. "I was over the square life. I did the college thing and did the nine-to five job thing, and it just didn't quite feel right." Among the nine-to-five jobs were in porn shops, Vandella adds with a giggle. "It was on my mind, and it was important that it was authentic and real. I didn't want to throw myself into an industry or profession without getting my feet wet first. Seeing if I could do it. I didn't even know if I could be a clerk at a porno shop. I was shy, Sheltered. I didn't even know what a d.p. was until I was 21, that gives you an idea."
Clerking in the porn shops made her more at ease with the material: "Once I got past the stage fright of being around adult films, I took it further. I wanted to see if I could make it work for myself, long-term. As shy as I was growing up, I was always drawn to sex work. I was curious about it. I'd research sex and the human body in the library. I knew something was going to happen, I just didn’t know what. I was drawn to it—the art of performing nude and dancing, but I know there was more. I was careful not to bite off more than I could chew. I started slow."
From the beginning, Vandella was honest with her family about her career choices. "Growing up on Long Island, my parents gave me an amazing life. They're still married and they're a huge part of my day-to-day life. It was important for me from the get-go to let them know I'm leaving this sales manager job and I'm gonna be working at the porn shop. I got bored at the porn shop and I wanted to take it a step further. I started looking for strip clubs in the yellow pages. I was auditioned and I got the job. I was 21. I got the biggest rush when I auditioned for the manager. I felt 'Holy shit, this is so fuckin' fun and amazing.' Really turned me on. It got me the job, because I was obviously into it. I remember starting and really loving it there. It was more like a peep show, very boutique-y, seven to nine girls a shift. Well-to-do business guys would come in, and working guys too. I loved it. it had so much charm, and also it had live sex theaters. I was kind of turned on by that. I just loved it there.
"I ended up legalizing my actions and going to Sheri's Ranch in Pahrump. I told my parents, 'I know this sounds crazy, but I really want to be a sex worker. This is where my heart is.' It was totally regulated, sheriff's card, doctor visits, everything. They were supportive, and they thought it was admirable that I wanted to be independent. During that time I started researching adult films. I spoke to a couple of agents—the first one was Jim South, that's how old I am—and the second one was Joel at Gold Star. I got a lot of information and I decided that I was not ready to get into the business. It took another year of thinking. I met Carmella Bing at Sheri's and she invited me to watch her shoot for Naughty America. We did an L.A. trip, two weeks later I shot my first scene for Naughty America. 2007. I've been shooting ever since. I did my research, I waited for the Universe to let me know this is the time to take it further. I took meeting Carmella as a sign, but it was also great to be able to observe her on a set. I watched her do two scenes and I was blown away. I was intrigued, impressed, turned on. Freaked out—in a great way. Holy mackerel. This is incredible. This is amazing. Just the adrenaline of being on set as a spectator—I couldn’t even put words to it. It was wonderful. I just knew I had to do this. I started out with Lisa Ann as my agent—she got me my first handful of scenes.
"My first scene, my costar came in my mouth in literally five minutes. I just swallowed, like a good girl. Up until that point, all of my mischief, all of my shenanigans, I had never really swallowed a load. So there it was. I took it like a fuckin' pro, like a fuckin' champ, because that's what we do. I let him keep fucking me and we did the real pop shot at the end. My first scene.
"I was still living in New York, so I had a geographic challenge. Lisa and I would plan my trip and she would have a booking for me. I met the great directors and the people who are incredible in the business. I did two weeks on, two weeks off for roughly two years. I was scared to just move here and be just another L.A. girl in an L.A. world. I didn't want to be just 'some girl.' I didn't have family out here. I wanted to build a foundation. For example, I'm really proud of my blow job scenes. That skill was configurated and formed during the years 2006 and early 2007. That's when when I decided I have to make this legit, I have to do this the right way. I finally came out to L.A. and I got my Zero Tolerance contract. It was everything I had ever wanted, and more. Face time with the amazing people at ZT and 3rd Degree, with Mike Quasar who is to this day one of my favorite people on the planet. He's a badass cinematographer and he knows his shit. He's a big fan of mine, and that makes me feel damn good. You can put that in the article. They wanted to change my name but I wanted to keep "Sarah" because I had a fan base under Sarah and they agreed. I took one year of the contract, and when when I started freelancing I was getting so much work I went back to my original name. They were totally supportive. ... And they still shoot me to this day and I am so grateful for that. I love them. They're good people. I got to do some showcases with them and some wonderful parodies. Amazing work that I never would have had the opportunity to do. The Psycho parody, the Jersey Shore parody, Flavor of Love, Wife Swap. Quite a few. All different in many ways, all amazing. I had great memories with them.
"That was 2010-2011. Good years. I came back to freelancing as Sarah Vandella and somehow, some way, during all of that, I became a MILF. I fucking love it. I think it's amazing, it's so empowering. I find it to be every freeing sexually, especially coming into my early 30s and doing more anal in 2015 and 2016, experimenting with a few d.p.'s. I just find it so much more enjoyable in my early 30s than ever in my life. Sex is just getting hotter and better for me. Definitely in my peak.
"When you start, you're obviously working a lot, you're being exposed to fans, and you either develop a name, and you stick and stay—or you don't. I'm still here. During that time, the way it changed for me is I got into major shape, got myself into an incredible lifestyle routine where I'm working very hard on balance, and it's showing in all areas in my life. I'm better than I've ever been. I've grown and matured quite a bit, and it’s enabled me to open up in my scenes and open up with my co-stars. Let loose a little more and trust a little more.
"Recently I did a scene with Markus Dupree, and while he was domming me and fucking my ass, just gorgeous strokes deep in that hole, it was a moment where in the past maybe I would be afraid or want to control it, but when you let go, as a performer there's something so freeing. It's almost like you're pushing your threshold as a performer. it's amazing. The only time we have moments, really, as performers is when we're filming. Everything else is so fleeting and fast. To be able to remember that moment when he was holding me by the nape of my hair and staring into my eyes and ramming me—it was amazing. It was beautiful.
"I've been working quite a bit, and it's all really great work. I just wrapped two features for Adam & Eve, one with the wonderful, amazing, incredible, talented Kay Brandt, involving hotwifes and their dirty desires, and I had the privilege and honor to be in my good friend Jeff Mullen's project The Ascension XXX. I had a wonderful role in that, some great dialogue scenes and a super fuckin' hot sex scene with the incredible Brad Armstrong. I love when I get a chance to do feature work. Gonzo work is important to me as well, but I feel like I really do shine in features. My confidence as an actress has gotten so much stronger. I used to be terrified of auditions. I'm just so glad to be part of it. I'm working, and I'm so blessed to be a part of this business.
"I'm looking forward to — honestly — just becoming the best version of myself that I cam be. There's still some work to be done, and I'm on my way. I guess, just to still be here. Still be part of it. I would love to be given an opportunity to direct, that would be incredible. First I would want to learn photography. I had the privilege of doing a shoot for Dana Vespoli recently, and the incredible James Avalon was there. I played a photographer shooting Anna de Ville, and James Avalon took his time to give me a 15-minute tutorial on not only how to hold and operate his beautiful camera, but also how to take a proper photo: How to line it up. Composition. I was like, 'Holy shit, this is like a life moment right now.' We are given so much opportunity once we open the door to this industry. I also love a lot of things: yoga, and traveling, and hiking, but my heart is with sex work and being an adult actress. I'm a lifer, man. I'm a fuckin' lifer. I'm here for the long haul.
"When you do what you love, it's just a bonus to be paid. I worked for five years in horrible retail work and I was miserable and hated life. I found the balance that I'm looking for in entertainment and sex work."
As told to Tod Hunter. Some editing has taken place.
