Stephanie Swift

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Stephanie Swift
Born (1972-02-07) 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 340 (+74 compilations)
2 as director (per IAFD)
Website
http://www.stephanieswift.com

Stephanie Swift (born February 7, 1972 in Louisiana) is a former American pornographic actress who starred in over 330 adult movies between 1995 and 2009, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Already considering retirement, following her surprise diagnosis and subsequent treatments, she left the adult movie industry in 2009. She is a member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.[3][4] Swift now works with XXXchurch.com, a Christian outreach group that offers to help pornographic actors leave the industry, and to help porn "addicts" overcome their obsessive-compulsive consumption of porn.[5]

Early life

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[6] (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.[7] Afterward she posed in nude modelling photographs for five years and was featured in Club International.[6][7]

Adult film career

Swift segued from nude model work to the region's adult film industry, where she began her career in 1995.[6] Her first softcore scene was in Playboy TV's Up Close and Dangerous.[6] Her first hardcore sex scene was in Space Sirens.[6] She went on to win several awards, including AVN's Female Performer of the Year in 1998.[8] She was for a period a contract girl with Wicked Pictures.[6]

She has an official website and made appearances on the exotic dancing circuit as a featured performer.[9] In 2004 she launched her own production company called Swift Entertainment, in which she was a director, screenwriter and producer.[6] She identifies as bisexual.[10][11]

Swift was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2006 and the XRCO Hall of Fame in 2008.[3][4]

Cancer diagnosis

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.[12][13] Tests following the first operation revealed that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and a second surgery was scheduled for September 2009.[14] Her treatment plan includes chemotherapy.[15] Swift was scheduled for further surgery on her lymph nodes on March 15, 2010.[16]

An August 2009 press release asked that donations toward her medical expenses be sent to her mother.[12] A fund-raising event called "Sex at the Shore" was held on October 10, 2009 on her behalf.[15] On March 10, 2010 a second benefit hosted by Nica Noelle was held with Swift in attendance.[16][17] 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.[18]

Post-adult film career

In 2011, Stephanie released a video filmed for XXXchurch.com 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 the church in their efforts to reach out to pornographic film actors.[5]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Pornstar Profile - Stephanie Swift". AVN. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Swift Talker – An Interview with Stephanie Swift". sexherald.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "AVN Awards Winners 2006". AVN.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO)". XRCO. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Stephanie Swift - "Cancer Saved My Life"". xxxchurch.com. Retrieved 2011-03-15. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Stephanie Swift: About Me". Official Site of Stephanie Swift. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Wicked Pictures bio". Wicked Pictures. Retrieved 2010-02-13. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "AVN Awards Winners 1998". AVN.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  9. ↑ "THE 2004 EXOTIC DANCER FAN FAIR REVIEW". las-vegas-strippers.net. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 
  10. ↑ Swift Talker - After Hours Interviews. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  11. ↑ Swift Talker (Continued) - After Hours Interviews. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Stephanie Swift Diagnosed with Breast Cancer". AVN.com. 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-10-22. 
  13. ↑ "Performer Stephanie Swift Diagnosed With Breast Cancer". XBiz.com. 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
  14. ↑ "Stephanie Swift Support Site". Adult Industry News. 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ariana Rodriguez (2009-10-09). "‘Sex at the Shore’ Benefit Set for Tomorrow". XBiz.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Mile High's Nica Noelle to Host Stephanie Swift Cancer Benefit". AVN.com. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-03. 
  17. ↑ "Stephanie Swift Fundraiser a memorable night". The EMM Report. 15 March 2010. 
  18. ↑ Drake, Jessica (March 7, 2010). "In Honor of Stephanie Swift". AvonWalk.com. Retrieved March 8, 2010. 
  19. ↑ "Adult Video Awards", CanBest.com. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
  20. ↑ "Adventures in LA LA Land", by Darklady, XMag, March 1998. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
  21. ↑ "AVN Awards Winners 1999". AVN.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14. 

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