# Why are all porn actors referred to as "stars"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2018, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583 "2018-03-15T03:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/21 "2018-03-15T13:50:02Z")
Of course he did. That’s why it was outside the quotation marks in my post. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/22 "2018-03-15T15:25:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Questions on show biz go in Cafe Society. “What? And give up show business?” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/23 "2018-03-15T15:29:10Z")
Lest anyone question my premise, a quick & dirty Google shows Porn star: 25M+ hits Porn actor: 400K+ hits Porn actress: 500K+ hits Not proof positive but a general indicator of usage. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/24 "2018-03-15T15:46:36Z")
A little off-topic, but this reminds me of the time I was in Target with my mom, and we passed the board game version of _Pawn Stars_. I said, “Hey, don’t you watch this?” My mother, who is Miss Malaprop herself, yells “Brandon, I _NEVER_ watch that!” and got flushed in the face. So, that awkward moment was brought to you by porn stars, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/25 "2018-03-15T15:59:30Z")
Not all porn actors are called stars, for every porn “star” you know about there are tens of thousands of girls who don’t even get a name. If their name is known they are stars, it’s not complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/26 "2018-03-15T16:03:30Z")
I’ll never tell, but I’ve known a few porn “stars” who have been known to, like stars, twinkle. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/27 "2018-03-15T16:13:07Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Lest anyone question my premise, a quick & dirty Google shows > > Porn star: 25M+ hits > Porn actor: 400K+ hits > Porn actress: 500K+ hits > > Not proof positive but a general indicator of usage. “Porn ingenue” only garners 372,000 results. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/28 "2018-03-15T16:20:11Z")
Don’t flakes of high end cocaine twinkle and sparkle? Pornstars, fueled by cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/29 "2018-03-15T16:46:40Z")
Being able to expand into a red giant must be useful. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/30 "2018-03-15T16:58:26Z")
Another vote for title inflation in general, nothing specific to porn. We’re watching _Hill Street Blues_ now and near the end they started the practice of listing after the main title sequence the “guest stars” and then the “also starring”. And they were far from the first. So for _many_ decades just having a non-trivial role in a movie or TV show entitled you to be a “star”. This lead eventually to the label “superstar”. I.e., those that were actually quite famous. But soon everybody was a superstar and the term has faded in most regards. (But “supermodel”, for example still hangs on.) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/31 "2018-03-15T18:09:47Z")
The reason is chivalry. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/32 "2018-03-15T18:41:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > “Porn ingenue” only garners 372,000 results. “Porn scholar” got 2.86m results. This is the exact same number as “squid porn.” I smell something fishy about this. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/33 "2018-03-15T18:50:12Z")
The recognizable faces in adult movies are the “stars”. They help sell the videos. I rented all of Marilyn Chambers films because I liked her. She brought a little better acting to her roles and she was very sexy. 😉 Veronica Hart was the same. I saw most of her films. She played a similar character in nearly all her movies. She had been badly burned in her early modeling days. That shoulder and arm were always kept covered with costumes. I haven’t kept up with the adult industry. The focus on huge, plastic boobs and perfect features leaves me bored and uninterested. I’d assume little has changed in marketing. Certain actors have a loyal fan base. Their name on the box drives rentals and sales. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/34 "2018-03-15T18:55:53Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > It’s not actually all that inaccurate to call them stars, since porn movies don’t typically have large casts and each scene usually doesn’t have more than two or three performers. It’s not like there’s any “supporting roles” in porn, pretty much every performer is the main subject of their particular scene. Basically if you’ve been in a porn movie, you’ve starred in a porn movie, and if you’ve starred in a porn movie, you’re a porn star. Very well put.😃 I came in here with a fairly negative opinion of the, every porn actor is a pornstar, concept. You just sold me on the idea. BAM 100% converted.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/35 "2018-03-15T19:27:05Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > It’s not actually all that inaccurate to call them stars, since porn movies don’t typically have large casts and each scene usually doesn’t have more than two or three performers. It’s not like there’s any “supporting roles” in porn, pretty much every performer is the main subject of their particular scene. Basically if you’ve been in a porn movie, you’ve starred in a porn movie, and if you’ve starred in a porn movie, you’re a porn star. One other good reason: The ones who aren’t “stars” are fluffers at best. There’s no grey areas. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/36 "2018-03-15T19:36:26Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > “Porn scholar” got 2.86m results. This is the exact same number as “squid porn.” > > I smell something fishy about this. When the porn stars align, is not dead which eternal lies. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/37 "2018-03-15T19:40:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Being able to expand into a red giant must be useful. There’s a porn market segment for that, surely. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/38 "2018-03-15T20:38:43Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Lest anyone question my premise, a quick & dirty Google shows > > Porn star: 25M+ hits > Porn actor: 400K+ hits > Porn actress: 500K+ hits > > Not proof positive but a general indicator of usage. I’m at work, so I can’t look now, but isn’t/wasn’t there a line of clothing branded “Porn Star”? ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/39 "2018-03-15T22:49:02Z")
Stormy Daniels was a star, as porn performers go. She was a contract girl, director, in all the relevant halls of fame, award winner, etc. Did mainstream TV and movie crossover appearances, received media coverage for political ambitions long before The Donald stuff. A known name and face (and other parts) to any casual porn viewer for most of the 2000s, not quite on the same level as a Jenna Jameson but no one was (for various reasons). I agree, though, that non-stars are almost always referred to as “porn stars.” I think it’s a combination of “star” being easier to say than something longer like “adult entertainment performer” and calling 99% of them “actors” would be laughable, plus the fact that there was a time when any porn performer you actually knew the name of would plausibly qualify as a “star.” ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583/40 "2018-03-15T22:55:30Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Are the male actors also referred to as porn stars? Yes, for example refer to articles about the death of Billy Glide, a veteran performer that anyone who watched porn from around 2000-2014 probably saw in many scenes but never had the name recognition of a Ron Jeremy (referred to as a porn star, usually) or John Holmes. Or Jennifer Capriati’s ex boyfriend (“Did she attempt suicide over porn star ex?”) or just about any reference to a male pron performer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-all-porn-actors-referred-to-as-stars/810583.md?page=3)