Ask most kindergarten kids what they want to be when they grow up and most will probably say a vet, astronaut, doctor or even a lawyer.
For as long as James Deen can remember, though, the only thing he ever wanted to be was a porn star.
And while it may seem a strange career choice for a kindergarten kid only just starting to understand what sex was all about, Deen said it was the most natural choice in the world.
Deen once got suspended for telling his third grade teacher his ambitious plan, and he was just 12 when he lost his virginity while away at Jewish camp.
The 28-year-old adult movie star and director was so sure of his career choice that as soon as he was legally able to, he took the plunge… so to speak.
Fast forward a decade later and Deen has gone on to become one of the biggest names in the industry.
At 22, Deen became the youngest ever male Performer of the Year winner at the AVN, XBIZ, and XRCO awards shows.
According to Deen, he’s just a normal guy doing a job — albeit one that means he has sex for a living, and one that’s seen him film more than 4000 scenes.
“It’s extremely weird to hear that,” he told news.com.au. “I’m nothing other than a normal dude.”
Deen, currently in Sydney as the star of health, sex and lifestyle exhibition Sexpo, which opens today, said he didn’t look at sex as just a job. Instead, it was more about turning his hobbies into careers.
His website — while featuring much of the content you’d expect! — also features segments called James Deen loves food, while he also directs short, erotic videos depicting the Seven Deadly Sins.
So surely it’s hard, pardon the pun, to maintain that stamina during filming?
Not for Deen — although he readily admits that when he’s had enough, he’s had enough… there are no tricks or secrets he can rely on to keep going.
I’m not a notch-on-the-bedpost kind of guy.
- James Deen
Does he ever get sick of having sex every day, sometimes numerous times a day? Absolutely not, says Deen, who says it’s like eating lots of cake, yet always finding room for one more piece.
Asked how many times a day he has sex, or how many women he’s slept with and he’ll openly admit he has no idea and can’t remember.
“I’m not a notch-on-the-bedpost kind of guy,” he said.
The 5-foot-8 star said he didn’t have any plans to retire at 40 and would keep going as long as he could, while making sure he had a retirement fund sorted for later in life.
He remained coy over how much money adult stars could make, describing “rich” as a subjective term.
“An 18-year-old out of high school might think $3000 [for] a film is a lot of money,” he said.
“I think $20 is a lot of money but then I’m Jewish… and I make more than $20.”
Deen, who is dating porn star, writer and model Stoya, said while the adult industry was heavily regulated, it still had its critics.
“There’s nothing illegal about making adult films,” he said.
But Deen said one of the biggest hazards of his job was his government’s politicized attitude to porn, and that sexual culture, especially in the US, carried a lot of stigma.
“It’s something society in general is not entirely comfortable with,” he said.
Anyone who has watched Lindsay Lohan’s 2013 movie The Canyons may recognize Deen’s face. The movie made him a crossover star, given he played the male lead — a role which required him to film some very intimate scenes with Lohan herself.
While he admitted he had never intended to star in mainstream films, he described the experience of working with Lohan in the Bret Easton Ellis-penned film as “really cool.”
Deen said his NASA engineer parents were always supportive of his career, and just wanted him to be sure it was what he wanted to do and that he took care of his own health and safety.
But asked if his parents had ever seen his films, he couldn’t be sure.
He just knows his aunt gave him a copy of The Canyons for hannukuh and his dad rings him whenever he gets an award.
“They’ve always been very supportive,” he said. “They’re awesome.”
So surely a guy who’s a hit with the ladies would know a good pick up line?
Deen isn’t so sure but suggested “anything from The Simpsons.”
So what advice would this sex expert have for guys then?
“Communicate and pay attention,” he said adding every person liked different things.
“You’re having sex with someone, not having sex to someone.”
That’s why he never does something he’s uncomfortable with, or will never do something he regrets.