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She's not the first mainstream actress to start out as a porn star--but only Jasmin St. Claire could recover from making an initial big splash as the star of World's Biggest Gang Bang 2 (1996). Of course, it helps that Jasmin was always as stunning intellectually as she is physically. You'll find a lot of adult actresses with padded r?m? but Jasmin was totally sincere about her Ivy League education and her ability to speak four languages--plus sign language.
Jasmin soon became a fan favorite with her outspoken demeanor and her own love for lowbrow pursuits. Bored--and insulted--by porn, Jasmin ditched the biz in 2002 to pursue her interests in pro wrestling. She's already appeared on shows from Extreme Championship Wrestling and went on to develop her own wrestling empire. Jasmin also attended acting classes as part of a newfound dedication to becoming a serious actress. Of course, she's since only chosen roles that reflect her schlock obsessions, with fine performances in Swamp Zombies (2005) and the upcoming Dorm Daze 2 (2006).
The entrepreneurial stunner is also in the midst of finishing her heavy-metal documentary and launching a DVD series entitled Metal's Darkside. That's in addition to working on her autobiography, maintaining JasminStClaire.com, and modeling for BC Rich Guitars and Coffin Case guitar cases. Jasmin's too blunt to be considered self-promotional, but we love a gal who speaks her mind when she's really got a mind. Jasmin recently took time from her L.A. headquarters to talk to Mr. Skin and give us an earful--and we learned a new word too!
People forget that your career as a sex symbol began with innocent softcore films, such as Marilyn Chambers' Bedtime Fantasies.
Oh, I remember that. I've yet to get a copy of that one. It was so long ago. I did that when I was in college. It was interesting. I was working at a strip club called Flashdancers, and they had an agency. I went in to audition and ended up doing that and New York Nights.
The producers must have had an eye for talent.
I wouldn't go that far. You're giving them more credit than they deserve. Not to be rude, of course. Kimberly Taylor was drop-dead gorgeous. I'm sure they went out of their way to get her. The girl that I worked with was Maritza Mendez. Between the three of us, [Kimberly] was the one who actually stood out.
You also started out as a genuine fan girl, with a long history of attending sci-fi and horror conventions.
When I was dancing, I dated a toy dealer, and we'd attend conventions together and display models. Then I became a guest at shows, and I was drawing people to my table back when I was still nobody. I think conventions are the best thing ever. I remember meeting Dave Stevens, and he was so nice. There's only been one girl I've ever met who was a total bitch, and I can't even remember her name. Brinke Stevens had left her table for a while, and this other girl seated next to her was telling people Brinke had left for the day. I thought Brinke should know, and she thanked me for telling her, but I didn't know I was causing problems.
With that background, you're a natural to make the transition to mainstream films such as Swamp Zombies and Dorm Daze 2. Has your past work ever been a problem?
Well, with Dorm Daze 2, my publicist was also doing publicity for National Lampoon's Dorm Daze. They were doing the sequel, and he said, "Would you like to hire a busty brunette with her SAG card?" They said that they'd love to, and then sent us a script. I'm still leery about a lot of the offers that I get. I don't think you need to have nudity in a movie.
Some producers just look at former porn stars as a nude body to throw into a film.
Yeah, that's bullshit. I'm not counting on these roles to make me or break me. I was offered a good role on The Sopranos as a Bada Bing girl, someone who had an affair with Ralphie, but I turned it down. I didn't know it was that much of a role.
The adult industry wasn't much fun, but professional wrestling doesn't seem to have treated you much better.
I got involved with one company that went bankrupt--Extreme Championship Wrestling--and that was the best place I ever worked. After that, I worked for another company, and, for whatever reasons, they never called me back to work there. I think it was politics. I know I have better microphone skills than whoever else they're using. Maybe it's because I don't want to kiss ass. So I started my own wrestling organization.
What happened with that?
I'd done a lot with the company but had a few setbacks, and then my company was stolen from me by a Certified Public Accountant. I'm sorry, but if I want to take off one fucking Saturday to see my boyfriend on his birthday, then fuck you. That's how the whole argument started. Then I called the DVD company to ask about my royalty checks, and they tell me that they're sending them to these people who supposedly own my company. Anybody who knows how to call the CPA Account Board should contact me. My company's being run by hacks now.
You seem to have really covered the bases in showbiz corruption.
I know all about it. My old manager ripped me off for four years, and there are some things he did that I'm still just learning about. If I spend all the money on a lawyer to go after him, I'd come out even.
Heavy metal seems to have treated you a lot better.
Oh, yeah. There's my documentary called Hollywood Rocks, and I started a DVD called Metal's Darkside, which has videos and a bunch of extras on it. If there's ever a sequel to Airheads, I want the role of Amy Locane. That's my favorite movie, next to Willie Wonka the Chocolate Factory. I mean the original, but I like the new one too, with Johnny Depp--even if he did remind me of Michael Jackson.
Not many people claim Airheads as their favorite film.
I just thought it was great. It's such a funny concept. Everyone knows that headbangers are like that. It's all bullshit. Personally, I'm really into death metal more. When I interviewed Cannibal Corpse on my DVD, I was shaking in my shoes. I think George Fisher is God. They're my favorite band. Them, and maybe Suffocation.
You started out as a particularly controversial adult actress, so it's pretty impressive that you've made it to the mainstream.
I consider myself to be more mainstream than other people who claim to be mainstream. There are certain actresses claiming to be mainstream who are still doing porn. How is that mainstream? I've got mainstream projects. There's Dorm Daze 2 and my autobiography that'll be out soon and my modeling for BC Rich Guitars and Coffin Case guitar cases.
You've always taken a very entrepreneurial approach to your career.
You have to, or you're in the realm of being a mugali.
What's a mugali?
A good example of a mugali is Jennifer Lopez or Melanie Griffith. Look at J-Lo. She's dumb. Somebody makes her business decisions for her. A mugali can't distinguish fact from fiction or reality from fantasy. They don't have the highest self-esteem. I always come up with my own ideas, and I'm not afraid to pursue them. What's the worst that can happen? You fail. Big fucking deal. At least you went out there and tried. I'm no mugali.
Are there any actresses whom you consider to be good role models?
I've always been a Brooke Shields fan, maybe because we're both Ivy League. She went to Princeton and I went to Columbia. I've always been a big Raquel Welch fan. I think she's a true movie star. And there's Teri Hatcher. I think she's great. She was in Lois Clark (Picture: 1), and that's as nerdy as it gets. She's very pretty and she's aged well. I don't watch Desperate Housewives, but if I did, it would be for Teri Hatcher. I'd love to meet her.
Have you had much luck in meeting celebrities?
You meet some people who have such an attitude in this business. I once met--who's Sean Penn's brother? Chris Penn? I met him once, and he was really drunk at the Broadway Grill in Santa Monica. I was out with my hairdresser and some other friends. He was saying, "I want to put you in a movie." I was like, "Come again?" He gave me his card, and my hairdresser had to tell me he was Sean Penn's brother. As if I'd ever want to work with those people.
images of Jasmin St. Claire all courtesy of JasminStClaire.com
Jasmin soon became a fan favorite with her outspoken demeanor and her own love for lowbrow pursuits. Bored--and insulted--by porn, Jasmin ditched the biz in 2002 to pursue her interests in pro wrestling. She's already appeared on shows from Extreme Championship Wrestling and went on to develop her own wrestling empire. Jasmin also attended acting classes as part of a newfound dedication to becoming a serious actress. Of course, she's since only chosen roles that reflect her schlock obsessions, with fine performances in Swamp Zombies (2005) and the upcoming Dorm Daze 2 (2006).
The entrepreneurial stunner is also in the midst of finishing her heavy-metal documentary and launching a DVD series entitled Metal's Darkside. That's in addition to working on her autobiography, maintaining JasminStClaire.com, and modeling for BC Rich Guitars and Coffin Case guitar cases. Jasmin's too blunt to be considered self-promotional, but we love a gal who speaks her mind when she's really got a mind. Jasmin recently took time from her L.A. headquarters to talk to Mr. Skin and give us an earful--and we learned a new word too!
People forget that your career as a sex symbol began with innocent softcore films, such as Marilyn Chambers' Bedtime Fantasies.
Oh, I remember that. I've yet to get a copy of that one. It was so long ago. I did that when I was in college. It was interesting. I was working at a strip club called Flashdancers, and they had an agency. I went in to audition and ended up doing that and New York Nights.
The producers must have had an eye for talent.
I wouldn't go that far. You're giving them more credit than they deserve. Not to be rude, of course. Kimberly Taylor was drop-dead gorgeous. I'm sure they went out of their way to get her. The girl that I worked with was Maritza Mendez. Between the three of us, [Kimberly] was the one who actually stood out.
You also started out as a genuine fan girl, with a long history of attending sci-fi and horror conventions.
When I was dancing, I dated a toy dealer, and we'd attend conventions together and display models. Then I became a guest at shows, and I was drawing people to my table back when I was still nobody. I think conventions are the best thing ever. I remember meeting Dave Stevens, and he was so nice. There's only been one girl I've ever met who was a total bitch, and I can't even remember her name. Brinke Stevens had left her table for a while, and this other girl seated next to her was telling people Brinke had left for the day. I thought Brinke should know, and she thanked me for telling her, but I didn't know I was causing problems.
With that background, you're a natural to make the transition to mainstream films such as Swamp Zombies and Dorm Daze 2. Has your past work ever been a problem?
Well, with Dorm Daze 2, my publicist was also doing publicity for National Lampoon's Dorm Daze. They were doing the sequel, and he said, "Would you like to hire a busty brunette with her SAG card?" They said that they'd love to, and then sent us a script. I'm still leery about a lot of the offers that I get. I don't think you need to have nudity in a movie.
Some producers just look at former porn stars as a nude body to throw into a film.
Yeah, that's bullshit. I'm not counting on these roles to make me or break me. I was offered a good role on The Sopranos as a Bada Bing girl, someone who had an affair with Ralphie, but I turned it down. I didn't know it was that much of a role.
The adult industry wasn't much fun, but professional wrestling doesn't seem to have treated you much better.
I got involved with one company that went bankrupt--Extreme Championship Wrestling--and that was the best place I ever worked. After that, I worked for another company, and, for whatever reasons, they never called me back to work there. I think it was politics. I know I have better microphone skills than whoever else they're using. Maybe it's because I don't want to kiss ass. So I started my own wrestling organization.
What happened with that?
I'd done a lot with the company but had a few setbacks, and then my company was stolen from me by a Certified Public Accountant. I'm sorry, but if I want to take off one fucking Saturday to see my boyfriend on his birthday, then fuck you. That's how the whole argument started. Then I called the DVD company to ask about my royalty checks, and they tell me that they're sending them to these people who supposedly own my company. Anybody who knows how to call the CPA Account Board should contact me. My company's being run by hacks now.
You seem to have really covered the bases in showbiz corruption.
I know all about it. My old manager ripped me off for four years, and there are some things he did that I'm still just learning about. If I spend all the money on a lawyer to go after him, I'd come out even.
Heavy metal seems to have treated you a lot better.
Oh, yeah. There's my documentary called Hollywood Rocks, and I started a DVD called Metal's Darkside, which has videos and a bunch of extras on it. If there's ever a sequel to Airheads, I want the role of Amy Locane. That's my favorite movie, next to Willie Wonka the Chocolate Factory. I mean the original, but I like the new one too, with Johnny Depp--even if he did remind me of Michael Jackson.
Not many people claim Airheads as their favorite film.
I just thought it was great. It's such a funny concept. Everyone knows that headbangers are like that. It's all bullshit. Personally, I'm really into death metal more. When I interviewed Cannibal Corpse on my DVD, I was shaking in my shoes. I think George Fisher is God. They're my favorite band. Them, and maybe Suffocation.
You started out as a particularly controversial adult actress, so it's pretty impressive that you've made it to the mainstream.
I consider myself to be more mainstream than other people who claim to be mainstream. There are certain actresses claiming to be mainstream who are still doing porn. How is that mainstream? I've got mainstream projects. There's Dorm Daze 2 and my autobiography that'll be out soon and my modeling for BC Rich Guitars and Coffin Case guitar cases.
You've always taken a very entrepreneurial approach to your career.
You have to, or you're in the realm of being a mugali.
What's a mugali?
A good example of a mugali is Jennifer Lopez or Melanie Griffith. Look at J-Lo. She's dumb. Somebody makes her business decisions for her. A mugali can't distinguish fact from fiction or reality from fantasy. They don't have the highest self-esteem. I always come up with my own ideas, and I'm not afraid to pursue them. What's the worst that can happen? You fail. Big fucking deal. At least you went out there and tried. I'm no mugali.
Are there any actresses whom you consider to be good role models?
I've always been a Brooke Shields fan, maybe because we're both Ivy League. She went to Princeton and I went to Columbia. I've always been a big Raquel Welch fan. I think she's a true movie star. And there's Teri Hatcher. I think she's great. She was in Lois Clark (Picture: 1), and that's as nerdy as it gets. She's very pretty and she's aged well. I don't watch Desperate Housewives, but if I did, it would be for Teri Hatcher. I'd love to meet her.
Have you had much luck in meeting celebrities?
You meet some people who have such an attitude in this business. I once met--who's Sean Penn's brother? Chris Penn? I met him once, and he was really drunk at the Broadway Grill in Santa Monica. I was out with my hairdresser and some other friends. He was saying, "I want to put you in a movie." I was like, "Come again?" He gave me his card, and my hairdresser had to tell me he was Sean Penn's brother. As if I'd ever want to work with those people.
images of Jasmin St. Claire all courtesy of JasminStClaire.com
