| Stephanie Swift | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 7, 1972 Louisiana, United States[1] |
| Other names | China Cat, Melody[1] |
| Ethnicity | mixed[2] |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)[1] |
| Weight | 110 lb (50 kg)[1] |
| No. of adult films | 374, 2 as director (per IAFD) |
| Website | |
| http://www.stephanieswift.com | |
Stephanie Swift (born on February 7, 1972 in Louisiana) is a former American pornographic actress who starred in over 370 adult movies between 1995 and 2009. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Following her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, she decided to quit the adult movie industry, a move she had been considering for some time. She now works with xxxchurch, a Christian group that reaches out to people addicted to pornography and to pornographic actors.[3]
Stephanie Swift was born in Louisiana and has described herself as a "mutt" in terms of ethnicity: Cajun, Irish, English, French, Spanish, Filipino and Norwegian.[2] When she was 10 years old, her father died of cancer and her family then relocated to Southern California.[2] At 19 she lived in San Diego, California and worked as a stripper for 6 months at a local club called The Body Shop[4] (not to be confused with the cosmetics store chain). She earned an Associate's Degree in Dental Assistance, and eventually became a registered dental assistant.[5] Afterward she posed in nude modelling photographs for five years and was featured in Club International.[4][5]
She segued from nude model work to the region's adult film industry, where she has been since 1995.[4] Her first softcore scene was in Playboy TV's Up Close and Dangerous.[4] Her first hardcore sex scene was in Space Sirens.[4] She went on to win several awards, including AVN's Female Performer of the Year in 1998.[6] She was for a period a contract girl with Wicked Pictures.[4]
She has an official website and made appearances on the exotic dancing circuit as a featured performer.[7] In 2006, Swift was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.[8]
In 2004 she launched her own production company called Swift Entertainment, in which she was a director, screenwriter and producer.[4]
In August 2009, she announced that she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer of the left breast and has since elected to have a double mastectomy performed at the hospital where her mother works.[9][10] Tests following the first operation revealed that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and a second surgery was scheduled for September 2009.[11] Her treatment plan includes chemotherapy.[12] Swift is scheduled for further surgery on her lymph nodes on March 15, 2010.[13]
An August 2009 press release asked that donations toward her medical expenses be sent to her mother.[9] A fund-raising event called "Sex at the Shore" was held on October 10, 2009 on her behalf.[12] On March 10, 2010 a second benefit hosted by Nica Noelle was held with Swift in attendance.[13][14] Fellow Wicked Pictures performer Jessica Drake participated in her second Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on September 11, 2010 on Swift's behalf to help raise money for breast cancer research.[15]
In 2011, Stephanie released a video filmed for xxxchurch in which she described her decision to quit the adult film industry. She described her childhood, how she grew up attending the Church of Christ, yet suffered sexual abuse at the hands of family members. She is currently working with xxxchurch in their efforts to reach out to porn stars.[3]