Mr NYC: Interview: Lynn Paula Russell, Legendary Artist and Performer

As an artist and performer whose main subject is erotica, it was perhaps inevitable that Lynn Paula Russell would move into adult films. She became not only an artist of lust but also its subject matter – the creator, muse, and work rolled up into one. A gorgeous, sexy, voracious woman, Lynn performed in several features during the twilight days of the NYC Golden Age of adult films.

Taking the nom de plume Paula Meadows, Lynn’s beauty and acting talent made her a stand-out in films like Fashion Fantasies, Oddest Couple, New York Vice, Young Nympho and others. Her scenes with partners like Nina Hartley, Joey Silvera, Siobhan Hunter, Tom Byron, and others burned up the screen.

In the last part of our interview, Lynn tells us about her time in the 1980s NYC adult business, as well as her memories of some of its most notable characters like the notorious Al Goldstein. She also tells us why she left the business and what she’s learned about herself – and life – since.

In the 1980s, you had a career in the adult film business and made some movies in NYC. What led you to make adult films and what are your memories of the adult film scene in NYC back then? Do you have any favorite movies that you did?

After that ‘burst-out’ I described earlier, when I started modelling, I had a strong presentiment that this was part of a bigger issue … but not only for me. You have to remember the general hypocrisy surrounding sex that still prevailed back in 70s London, despite all the attempts to shift it. In erotica, women were the focus of attention as objects of arousal, but they did not have a voice of their own. Now the wave of change was upon us, driving us on inexorably, and looking back I can see that I was responding to this cultural surge, as well as to my own inner imperatives. There was an irrepressible desire to explore further and my career took off in a new direction. Erotica was MY subject and I needed to follow it through, wherever it led, and express it all in my art.

The adult film scene in the early 80s in the USA was just at the point where it was moving away from the so called ‘Golden Age’ when films such as The Devil in Miss Jones were seriously attempting to explore interesting erotic themes, and a professional actress like Georgina Spelvin brought a degree of reality to what she did, and genuine enthusiasm. One felt that she had consciously chosen to do it, rather than just drifted into it through exploitation. In the 80s there still were a few directors who were able to express their ideas in X rated films, but now they were aware that the industry was beginning to demand a formulaic approach. Having to stick to a formula makes it very difficult for directors to be creative. But the team I worked for were still trying. I was very lucky.

You worked with directors like Henri Pachard and some of the biggest adult stars at the time -- Danielle Martin, Joey Silvera, Siobhan Hunter, Tom Byron, even the legendary Nina Hartley! What are your memories of working with them? Was it a fun time or just work?

We were like a sort of porn repertory company. The same people turned up in different films and we became like a family, because of course we had shared intimate moments together on film. Henri Pachard was a very humorous character and had an infectious twinkle in his eye. Yes, he did make the work fun. It was he who explained to me that he always chose themes that sprang directly from an erotic situation, rather than trying to fit sex scenes around a complicated sort of plot.

Viewers will always fast forward the scenes that consist of just acting – usually bad acting – to get to the sexy bits. So, he constructed scenarios around ladies of the night and the hidden side of society. But speaking of bad acting – this wasn’t always the case in these films. I feel sure that Joey Silvera could have made his name in Hollywood movies. He was a very talented actor. Danielle had a delightful personality but seemed very young and vulnerable to me. She always brought her diminutive chihuahua with her at all times.

You mention Nina Hartley. I admired her a lot. She had deliberately chosen to make erotic films, as I had, and also spoke out enthusiastically where a pro-porn voice was needed. I too used to be interviewed on TV when I arrived home after my adventures in the US and sometimes had to hold my own with a disapproving feminist or member of a church group. Nina since devoted herself wholeheartedly to this work, but she was at the very beginning of her film career when I knew her. She took everything in her stride, and clearly enjoyed herself. We got along splendidly and became friends. I was intrigued when she told me about her ‘menage a trois.’ Having a husband and a wife seemed a very satisfactory arrangement if one happened to be bisexual, although marriage to one person can be complicated enough! I have kept in touch with her ever since.

You ask whether it was all fun – well, to begin with it was, probably mainly because I was enjoying exploring all my fantasies, but on my third visit, having to switch on the lust, regardless of how you felt, became onerous sometimes. Whenever something becomes repetitive, it begins to lose its spontaneity.

Is it true that you did an interview with the infamous Al Goldstein on his long-running show Midnight Blue? Tell us about that experience!

Yes, that’s quite right, I did appear on Midnight Blue. I had met Al on one of his visits to London, in 1981. At that time, I knew nothing of his ‘infamous’ reputation and had never heard of Screw. The fact is, we really hit it off and became very good friends over the years. Later on I came to realize how abrasive and unpleasant he could be when rubbed up the wrong way, especially when haranguing certain people in his editorials, but from my perspective I always found him warm and affectionate – unbelievable though that may seem! I always joked with him that I would never let that secret out because it might destroy his reputation.

When you agreed to appear on Midnight Blue you took your life in your hands because you knew that Al was going to do his best to embarrass you by springing something on you out of the blue! He did not disappoint. I found myself reluctantly having to re-enact a scene from a video I made in London. When I looked at the tape afterwards I can see my hands shaking. But never mind – by Al’s standards I got off extremely lightly. However, it’s not something I would care to watch now. It seems a very distant memory, as if it happened in another lifetime. I look back on those years and am grateful for them, but would not care to revisit any of it. It was part of a journey that released creativity and brought new understanding. This would not be everyone’s way!

Al did not have a peaceful death, from what can be gathered, and I think he paid a heavy price for all the venom he directed at people. The fallout had to come, sooner or later, but it made me sad.

What eventually led you to leave adult films? Did you decide to dedicate yourself totally to your art?

It was during my final stay in NYC that I woke up and realized with a start that I had strayed from my original plan. I had only ever intended to dip my toe in the water, and now here I was neglecting my art work. Sexuality was beginning to lose its power and it occurred to me that the drive was never intended to be used this way. Women can do damage to themselves by forcing their bodies to perform. I had to return home and reflect.

Further thoughts.

Going back over the 80s has certainly brought it all back. Perhaps I have left out some of the darker side of the experience in adult films. [AIDS] ... was beginning to be a fear, and I didn't mention drugs. I never touched drugs myself, but I was aware that some of the actors did. One of the girls I worked with said it was the only way she could get through the day. And as for exploitation of women, the only person I ever met from the porn industry who complained bitterly was a man – Harry Reems of Deep Throat fame. He had retired from the business when I met him but was still deeply disturbed by the way he had been treated.

… One shouldn't give a sugar coated impression, but I think when you enter any business with a positive attitude, it tends to reflect back what you put into it. I may have been rather naive when I set out on my adventure, but experience has now shown me things that have widened my perspective considerably. Having allowed myself to explore all that sexual freedom, I now know the dangers that really exist. Going against one's natural instincts for too long and completely separating sex from love does not lead to fulfilment but makes erotic activity meaningless and empty – this is what I found. But people must discover this for themselves. Porn can be extremely liberating for viewers to watch, when it is needed. I don't want people who see my films to think that I felt negative about it, because I certainly didn't. These were only the conclusions I came to much later on when I reflected on all the things I had done.

Debates and controversies around sexual harassment and sex worker rights are much in the news these days. As a woman who has had a successful career in male-dominated fields, I'm sure you've dealt with and had thoughts about these subjects. Would you care to share them with us?

In the last forty years or so relations between men and women have become extremely strained and there is a sort of war going on. I think this is a great shame. Strangely enough, I never resented the exploitation and rather blamed myself for going along with it. There were times when I wonder why I hadn’t simply said ‘No’. I wasn’t a Hollywood actress whose career depended on not offending the important guys. Or maybe I was just lucky – I wasn’t badly treated and worked with directors who treated me with some respect. I know there are many others who have quite different stories and my heart goes out to them. The developments we’ve seen lately were inevitable. If the power struggle can settle to a new equilibrium between men and women that will be wonderful, but it will take time for real understanding to grow. All the hate and resentment needs to be let out first before this can happen.