Georgina Spelvin
Encyclopedia
Georgina Spelvin is the stage name of Michelle Graham, a former American pornographic actress who is best known for her appearance in the classic film The Devil in Miss Jones
.
, and The Pajama Game
. She made her first movie, The Twilight Girls, a softcore lesbian film, in 1957.
, introduced her to adult film director Gerard Damiano
, Graham moved away from the mainstream into porn. The stage name she adopted is a variation on George Spelvin
, a name traditionally used as a pseudonym by stage actors.
Though Spelvin is known to have appeared in a few sexploitation
features during the late-1960s, she became one of the best-known figures in hardcore pornography
for her starring role in The Devil in Miss Jones
in 1973. Spelvin went on to appear in over 70 adult films, before retiring from them in 1979. In addition, she appeared in the low-budget exploitation film
Girls For Rent (aka I Spit on Your Corpse
)--for which she also served as costume designer—and made cameos in Police Academy
and Police Academy 3: Back in Training
. These were "straight," mainstream films, but she was cast as a hooker; the audience was expected to recognize the well-known porn star. The practice of fellatio
was also implied in the films. She also had straight film roles in Bad Blood
, in which she was credited as "Ruth Raymond," and Next Year in Jerusalem as well as guest starring roles on the television shows Dream On
and The Lost World
.
Georgina Spelvin epitomized the era of porn chic. In 1973, Robert Berkvist, writing in The New York Times, commented that "'Miss Jones' is as familiar in [the respectable and well-to-do New York suburb of] Scarsdale
as she is on Broadway."
, which it titled The New Devil in Miss Jones.
In 2005, she was interviewed for the documentary film Inside Deep Throat
. As of the third week of February 2008, she resided in the Los Angeles area with her husband, actor John Welsh
.
In 2009, she appeared as herself in the video for Massive Attack
's song, Paradise Circus.
She was the initial inspiration for underground cartoonist John Linton Roberson
's character Vladrushka.
Nominations
The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
.
Early life
As a child, Spelvin fell victim to an attack of polio, but she recovered enough of her mobility to become a dancer. She began her professional career as a chorus girl in New York and was featured in the Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls, Sweet CharitySweet Charity
Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria...
, and The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
. She made her first movie, The Twilight Girls, a softcore lesbian film, in 1957.
Pornography career
When her friend, actor Harry ReemsHarry Reems
Harry Reems is the nom de film of one of the most notorious pornographic actors of the 1970s and star of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat.-Early life and career:Reems was born Herbert Streicher...
, introduced her to adult film director Gerard Damiano
Gerard Damiano
Gerard Damiano was an American director of adult films and producer, writer and director of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat .-Biography:...
, Graham moved away from the mainstream into porn. The stage name she adopted is a variation on George Spelvin
George Spelvin
George Spelvin, Georgette Spelvin, and Georgina Spelvin are the traditional pseudonyms used in programs in American theater. The reasons for the use of an alternate name vary. Actors who do not want to be credited, or whose names would otherwise appear twice because they are playing more than one...
, a name traditionally used as a pseudonym by stage actors.
Though Spelvin is known to have appeared in a few sexploitation
Sexploitation
Sexploitation, or "sex-exploitation", describes a class of independently produced, low-budget feature films generally associated with the 1960s and serving largely as a vehicle for the exhibition of non-explicit sexual situations and gratuitous nudity. The genre is a subgenre of exploitation films...
features during the late-1960s, she became one of the best-known figures in hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
for her starring role in The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
in 1973. Spelvin went on to appear in over 70 adult films, before retiring from them in 1979. In addition, she appeared in the low-budget exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
Girls For Rent (aka I Spit on Your Corpse
I Spit on Your Corpse
I Spit on Your Corpse, also known as Fatal Pursuit and Girls for Rent, is a 1974 crime film directed by cult director Al Adamson and distributed by Troma Entertainment.-Plot:...
)--for which she also served as costume designer—and made cameos in Police Academy
Police Academy (film)
Police Academy is a 1984 comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, and starring Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall and G.W. Bailey. It grossed approximately $146 million worldwide and spawned six more films in the Police Academy series.-Plot:...
and Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Police Academy 3: Back in Training is the third film in the Police Academy film series, released on March 21, 1986.-Plot:The film begins in a large garage structure, where Lt. Proctor and Commandant Mauser meet up with former Police Academy cadets, Chad Copeland and Kyle Blankes...
. These were "straight," mainstream films, but she was cast as a hooker; the audience was expected to recognize the well-known porn star. The practice of fellatio
Fellatio
Fellatio is an act of oral stimulation of a male's penis by a sexual partner. It involves the stimulation of the penis by the use of the mouth, tongue, or throat. The person who performs fellatio can be referred to as the giving partner, and the other person is the receiving partner...
was also implied in the films. She also had straight film roles in Bad Blood
Bad Blood
Bad Blood is an English phrase referring to enmity between two people or groups.The phrase may also refer to:-In film and television:* Bad Blood , starring Jack Thompson, about mass murderer Stanley Graham...
, in which she was credited as "Ruth Raymond," and Next Year in Jerusalem as well as guest starring roles on the television shows Dream On
Dream On (TV series)
Dream On is an American adult-themed situation comedy about single New Yorker, Martin Tupper. The show used a gimmick where old black and white clips were used to punctuate the main character's feelings or thoughts...
and The Lost World
The Lost World (TV series)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World is a syndicated television series loosely based on the 1912 novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World...
.
Georgina Spelvin epitomized the era of porn chic. In 1973, Robert Berkvist, writing in The New York Times, commented that "'Miss Jones' is as familiar in [the respectable and well-to-do New York suburb of] Scarsdale
Scarsdale, New York
Scarsdale is a coterminous town and village in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the northern suburbs of New York City. The Town of Scarsdale is coextensive with the Village of Scarsdale, but the community has opted to operate solely with a village government, one of several villages...
as she is on Broadway."
After Devil
In 2004, she made a cameo appearance in Vivid Video's remake of The Devil in Miss JonesThe Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
, which it titled The New Devil in Miss Jones.
In 2005, she was interviewed for the documentary film Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat is a 2005 American documentary about the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat and its effects on American society.The film is narrated by Dennis Hopper. The documentary was written, produced, and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, and produced by Brian Grazer...
. As of the third week of February 2008, she resided in the Los Angeles area with her husband, actor John Welsh
John Welsh
John Welsh may refer to:*John Welsh of Ayr, religious leader*John Welsh of Irongray, religious leader*John Welsh , FRS , Superintendent of Kew Observatory*John Welsh *John Welsh...
.
In 2009, she appeared as herself in the video for Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's song, Paradise Circus.
She was the initial inspiration for underground cartoonist John Linton Roberson
John Linton Roberson
John Linton Roberson , also known as JLRoberson, is an American writer, illustrator, and cartoonist.-Biography:His father was Lt. John Linton Roberson III, who served under Col...
's character Vladrushka.
Autobiography
In May 2008, she published her autobiography, The Devil Made Me Do It, and appeared on camera in a short web clip announcing its release to her fans on the internet. A self-published work, the book is available through her official website, Georgiespelvin.com.Awards
Wins- 1976 AFAAAdult Film Association of AmericaThe Adult Film Association of America, the AFAA, was the first American association of pornographic film producers. It fought against censorship laws, attempted to defend the industry against prosecution for obscenity, and held an annual adult film awards ceremony.It was founded in 1969 in Kansas...
Best Supporting Actress for Ping Pong
- 1977 AFAA Best Actress for Desires Within Young Girls
- 1978 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Take Off
- 1979 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Esctacy Girls
- 1980 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Urban Cowgirls
- 1981 AFAA Best Actress for Dancers
- 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;"|...
- Legends of Erotica
- XRCO Hall of FameXRCO Hall of FameXRCO Hall of Fame lists some of the most notable adult entertainment works and workers. The list is managed by X-Rated Critics Organization and inducted annually during the XRCO awards.-Actors:* 1985 John C...
Nominations
- 2006 AVN Best Non-Sex Performance for The Devil in Miss Jones