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Nina Hartley (born Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959 in Berkeley, California) is an American pornographic actress and sex educator.
Hartley was born to a liberal Jewish family, though her parents were Zen Buddhists when she was a child. Hartley attended San Francisco State University's undergraduate nursing school and graduated summa cum laude. She is a registered nurse. In her sophomore year of nursing school she started working in the adult entertainment industry by dancing in strip clubs, including Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre in San Francisco.
She made her foray into the world of pornographic movies during her junior year, in 1984. Her debut performance was in the film Educating Nina which was produced by the veteran porn star Juliet Anderson (better known as Aunt Peg), and this proved to be a massive hit. Since then she has gone on to feature in over 400 first-run adult films, and has become one of the most enduring and recognizable performers in the industry. She is best known within the adult film industry for her "bubble butt" (often referred to as the "best ass in the business"), interracial scenes and her lesbian scenes.
Politically, Hartley is a socialist and outspoken sex-positive feminist. Addressing other women, she said "Sex isn't something men do to you. It isn't something men get out of you. Sex is something you dive into with gusto and like it every bit as much as he does." Hartley has been an advocate for the adult film industry's right to exist, and, prior to the rise to stardom of Jenna Jameson, had often been called upon when television news programs and talk shows required an articulate, leading adult film actress to support the pro side. She appeared most notably on The Oprah Winfrey Show with fellow porn actress Ona Zee. The two came under hard scrutiny from the mostly female audience, but refused to back down and were outspoken in their support of the industry. She and Ona Zee also spoke out strongly against illegal drugs in the industry. (read more . . . )
