Belladonna is one of the best-known porn stars in the world. She is less famous than some other performers to mainstream audiences as she has made few attempts to cross over in her work. "I only became interested in mainstream work this year for the first time," she says. To non-porn watching audiences she may be best known for crying while being interviewed by Diane Sawyer about the adult industry a few years ago. But her mainstream profile may be raised in 2009 as she says she is doing a  horror film and working on her autobiography.

In the adult world, of course, she has been a top-tier adult star for almost a decade: well known as a performer, director and company owner. Next week she will be in Vegas with an estimated 30,000 other porn professionals and fans for Adult Entertainment Expo at the Venetian and the AVN Awards (considered the adult Oscars) at Mandalay Bay Events Center. In addition to being nominated for a bunch of awards, Belladonna will be co-hosting the awards this year for the first time.

Richard Abowitz: How did hosting AVN Awards this year come about?

Belladonna: I have been interested in hosting for awhile, and I always wondered how they go about choosing the talent for the hosts. I wanted to do it. I thought I would be really good at it. My husband told me to call them up. But I don't like to do things that way. I want people to call me, because they feel they have the desire to have me there. But I called in 2007 and asked them to please think of me. In 2008 I asked again. And then they asked me to come in for an interview and they told me they wanted me to co-host the show for 2009. It was really exciting. I never do things like that. I don't go out and find things for myself. I let them come to me, because I feel better about that.

Abowitz: You haven't shown much interest in mainstream work. Why?

Belladonna: I wasn't interested in that at all until this year. Mainstream never appealed to me through my career until this year. What happened was I did a couple features. They were adult features, but there was acting involved. I don't do a lot of acting. So, it was fun and I learned a lot from it. Now, I got cast in a horror movie that is being shot next year. And it is all new to me still and I like to try new things. I get bored really easily and don't like to ever do the same things over again.

Abowitz: How often have you gone to this convention? And what do you think of it?

Belladonna: I have been there 7 or 8 times. This one stands out because it is a huge awards show that has been going on for years. It is in Las Vegas and that in itself is exciting and everyone comes to AVN. To me it isn't the same every year. I loved the year Jim Norton was the comedian, about three years ago.

Abowitz: On the subject of AVN awards, I assume you have won some and lost some. Do you care?

Belladonna: It doesn't hurt me to not win. But I really like to win. There are some awards I want to win more than others.

Abowitz: What award would you most like to win this year?

Bellladonna: Last year I won for best director and that meant a lot to me. This year I am up for a bunch, but again I would love to win best director. I work really hard at my movies. That would mean a lot to me.

Abowitz: How has being a performer helped you as a director?

Belladonna: I think it makes a huge difference to be a performer before you are a director. You know what it is like to be talent. You know what it is like to go in and be asked to do certain things. For me, when I am directing, I make sure the talent I use really wants to do what they are doing. I pay close attention to how comfortable they are doing it. I don't care what sells. I care that I am watching people having fun doing what they are doing. There are a lot of companies out there that aren't passionate about what they are shooting. They just shoot what they think sells. I think if people are enjoying themselves, that will sell. I care about the talents' feelings. I think that matters to having a great product.

Abowitz: Has the recession and piracy impacted your year?

Belladonna: I've noticed a dramatic change since January 2008. It has to do with the economy and pirating. Our sales are down. But that just inspires me to find other things to do. I am glad this is happening. To me it is exciting not to be comfortable.

Photo credit: Sarah Gerke