Briana Banks
Encyclopedia
Briana Banks is a German-American pornographic actress
and model.
, Bavaria
to a German father and an Italian-
American mother. They moved to Britain
when she was four years old, and to the Los Angeles, California
, United States suburb of Simi Valley
when she was seven years old. Her father still lives in Germany. She moved out of her mother's house when she was 16 years old, taking her 14-year-old sister with her. She got custody of her sister when she turned 18. She modeled as a teenager, including a cover of Teen magazine
. She held various other jobs before entering the adult industry
; making pizza, clerk at an arts and crafts store, file clerk and secretary.
ing for adult magazines. The photographer put her in a pornographic film. Her first film was University Coeds 18, for Dane Entertainment, in which she performed opposite Brandon Iron
. She entered the industry under the name "Mirage", but began calling herself "Briana Banks" in 2000, after having the first of two breast enlargement operations. Having had aspirations of being a supermodel
, she chose the professional surname "Banks" after model Tyra Banks
. Her first appearance using the new name was in the film Decadent Whores 9. She was Penthouse magazine's Pet of the Month in June 2001. The same year, she signed with Vivid Entertainment
.
Banks claims to have the longest legs in the business (36 in (91.4 cm) inseam). She has a ribbon tattoo on her lower back
. For several years, her regular boyfriend was pornographic actor Bobby Vitale
, but they broke up in 2006.
In 2002 Banks was one of the first pornographic actresses to have an action figure
made in her likeness, by Los Angeles based company Cyber F/X and Sota Toys.
Banks was a contributing author in the 2004 book How To Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide
(ISBN 9780060581480, from ReganBooks
), in which she and other Vivid contract stars give advice and tips about sex, as well as relate anecdotes from their personal sex lives.
On October 13, 2006, Banks reportedly filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than US$
75,000 in damages against Doc Johnson Enterprises charging that they had created unauthorized products from molds of her genitals.
Pornographic actor
A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is a person who appears in pornographic film. Most actors appear nude in films...
and model.
Early life
Briana Bany was born in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
to a German father and an Italian-
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
American mother. They moved to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
when she was four years old, and to the Los Angeles, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States suburb of Simi Valley
Simi Valley
Simi Valley is a synclinal valley in Southern California in the United States. It is an enclosed or hidden valley surrounded by mountains and hills. It is connected to the San Fernando Valley to the east by the Santa Susana Pass & 118 freeway, and in the west the narrows of the Arroyo Simi and 118...
when she was seven years old. Her father still lives in Germany. She moved out of her mother's house when she was 16 years old, taking her 14-year-old sister with her. She got custody of her sister when she turned 18. She modeled as a teenager, including a cover of Teen magazine
Teen (magazine)
Teen was an American teen lifestyle magazine for preteen and early teenage girls, ages 10 to 15. The content of Teen included advice, entertainment news, quizzes, fashion, beauty, celebrity role models, and "real-girl stories".-Content:...
. She held various other jobs before entering the adult industry
Sex industry
The sex industry consists of businesses which either directly or indirectly provide sex-related products and services or adult entertainment...
; making pizza, clerk at an arts and crafts store, file clerk and secretary.
Career
In 1999, she responded to an ad in the newspaper to do nude modelNude model
Nude model can refer to:*Model , modeling that has subjects pose without clothing as an aid in creating a work of art*Fetish model, modeling to add eroticism and sexuality to photography, graphic work, internet sites, and paintings...
ing for adult magazines. The photographer put her in a pornographic film. Her first film was University Coeds 18, for Dane Entertainment, in which she performed opposite Brandon Iron
Brandon Iron
Brandon Iron is a Canadian pornographic actor and director.-Performer:Iron's first film was with Ashley Nicole in Bonfire of the Panties in 1991, however he did not start performing on a full time basis until 1997....
. She entered the industry under the name "Mirage", but began calling herself "Briana Banks" in 2000, after having the first of two breast enlargement operations. Having had aspirations of being a supermodel
Supermodel
The term supermodel refers to a highly-paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s. Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and labels...
, she chose the professional surname "Banks" after model Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
. Her first appearance using the new name was in the film Decadent Whores 9. She was Penthouse magazine's Pet of the Month in June 2001. The same year, she signed with Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
.
Banks claims to have the longest legs in the business (36 in (91.4 cm) inseam). She has a ribbon tattoo on her lower back
Lower back tattoo
A lower back tattoo is a body decoration. Such tattoos have become popular since the late 1990s. They are commonly derided as suggestive of promiscuity and often referred to as "tramp stamps" and other slang terms. The German term Arschgeweih can be translated as 'ass antlers'...
. For several years, her regular boyfriend was pornographic actor Bobby Vitale
Bobby Vitale
Bobby Vitale, also known as Bobby Vitali, is an American pornographic actor. He entered the adult film industry in 1995 and has performed in over 418 titles. His filmography includes films directed by John Leslie. Vitale has directed two adult films. While married to Briana Banks, he did scenes...
, but they broke up in 2006.
In 2002 Banks was one of the first pornographic actresses to have an action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
made in her likeness, by Los Angeles based company Cyber F/X and Sota Toys.
Banks was a contributing author in the 2004 book How To Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide
(ISBN 9780060581480, from ReganBooks
ReganBooks
ReganBooks was an American bestselling imprint or division of HarperCollins book publishing house , headed by editor and publisher Judith Regan, started in 1994 and ended in late 2006. During its existence, Regan was called, by LA Weekly, "the world's most successful publisher". The division...
), in which she and other Vivid contract stars give advice and tips about sex, as well as relate anecdotes from their personal sex lives.
On October 13, 2006, Banks reportedly filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
75,000 in damages against Doc Johnson Enterprises charging that they had created unauthorized products from molds of her genitals.
Awards
- Hot D'OrHot d'OrHot d'Or was an adult film industry Pornographic award, awarded annually from 1992 to 2001 in Cannes, France by the French magazine Hot Vidéo. It has been described as the porn equivalent of the Palme d'Or or the Academy Awards. The analogous American honor is the AVN Award...
Cannes 2001 - Best American New Starlet - AVN AwardsAVN AwardsThe AVN Awards are movie awards sponsored and presented by the American adult video industry trade magazine AVN to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of the creation and marketing of American pornographic movies. They are called the "Oscars of porn"...
for "Best Renting Title of the Year", and "Best Selling Title of the Year", Briana Loves JennaBriana Loves JennaBriana Loves Jenna is a 2001 pornographic film starring Briana Banks and Jenna Jameson, written and directed by Jay Grdina under the stage name Justin Sterling.-History:...
, 2003 - 2009 AVN Hall of FameAVN Hall of FameThis is a list of members of the AVN Hall of Fame. The AVN Hall of Fame honors the legends of the adult entertainment industry.- AVN Hall of Fame members :[Top]| style="vertical-align:top; width:15px;"|...
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