By Erika Icon

YNOT – Not many porn stars begin their career at 29 — but Rebecca Bardoux did. She’s always done things her own way.

A chance meeting with Sean Michaels in 1992 led to a 20-year career on the adult industry’s A list, thanks to Bardoux’s seemingly insatiable sexual appetite and astounding anal scenes. Despite the more than 200 films testifying to her devilishly bawdy attitude, Bardoux is a classy lady.

In 2007, she was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame, solidifying her status as an adult industry icon. Now in her mid-40s, Bardoux has reinvented herself as the ultimate Cougar, has her own weekly radio show and is the marketing and media manager for Biker Lube. The lady doesn’t quit.

On Jan. 18, she’ll be inducted into Legends of Erotica during a ceremony in Las Vegas — and she’s still doing things her own way.

YNOT.com: How did you get into adult?

Rebecca Bardoux: I was a stripper, and an agent approached me and asked if I would be interested in feature dancing. He sent me out to Vegas to be in a dancer competition so I’d have some credits for my bio. That’s where I met Sean Michaels, and the rest is history. I came out to [Los Angeles], and Sean guided me in the right direction. I was never placed in amateur movies and features from the very beginning.

You left the industry at one point and came back. What prompted that?

I had met a man and we were going to get married. Well, things didn’t work out. It was very hard for both of us to hide my past career as a adult film star, and it took a toll on the relationship. Even so, he is still one of the most wonderful men I have been with. I just don’t think he knew what he was in for.

How many movies have you made?

To be clear, there is a difference between movies and scenes. For most of my career, I worked on movies. There was dialogue and a plot. Sometimes we would spend up to three days working on a movie.

Within each movie, I was in two scenes. In my career, I have done about 200 movies. As far as scenes — which involve going to a location, doing a setup and having sex — I would say about 90.

These days, it’s all about scenes. It’s the quality of one’s work that makes [the performer] a commodity for this business, not the quantity. That’s why it’s almost impossible for an old-school star to be compared to the performers of today.

What was it like being inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2007?

I have wanted [that honor] for a very long time, and each year when I didn’t get in I felt bad. Then when it finally came, I was out of the business and didn’t know I got it. Looking back now, it’s a great thing to have in my bio. I earned it by working hard and being professional and respectful to everyone who came my way during my career. I am very proud of earning membership, because I know in my heart and soul that I deserved it.

Who is your favorite performer, or performers, to work with? Why?

I don’t have favorites. I enjoy working with almost everyone. Each performer I work with adds something different to the scene. I honestly have no favorites.

In your 20 years inside the industry, you’ve seen a lot of people come and go. What is the most important thing you’ve learned?

The most important thing I have learned is that this is a business and you should treat it as one. Because, at the end of the day, you are responsible for you. No one owes you anything. Only the strong will survive, and if you have no integrity and love burning bridges, you will never make it.

No one is better than anyone one else here. We can all be replaced at the snap of a finger. And if you think people will miss you when you are gone because you’ve spend a few years in the business, you’ve won some awards and had your ass kissed at times, then you are delusional. Now, if you have a long, illustrious career in the industry and people genuinely like you, when you leave and they hear your name in the future, they will at least smile and say how nice you were.

What advice would you give younger or newer adult actresses?

Leave your ego at the door. No matter how pretty and sexy everyone in your hometown thinks you are, you are just another chick with a pussy here. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. Respect the people before you, and don’t think you are better then anyone else. Again, it’s a business, and people running the show don’t have time for bullshit. They have a mortgage to pay and mouths to feed, and this is their job, not their life. You can easily be replaced.

What is the most misunderstood thing about you?

At this point in my career, I think it would be that I am a pushover. I’m a nice person and kind to people. People should not look at that as a weakness. My silence is the thing you should fear the most.

You were on the front lines working tirelessly to get voters to vote against Measure B. Unfortunately, the so-called condoms-in-porn law passed. How do you think this will change the industry?

[Campaigning against] Measure B was one of the most mentally exhausting things I have ever done. I learned things about the government and people in general that I did not want to know. It made me a much stronger woman, and it reinforced the fact that I need to take care of me first.

Politics is not a game I would want to play on a regular basis, but if I need to support the industry again for anything, I will. Next time, my voice will be a lot louder.

As far as how Measure B will change the industry, hopefully only the strong will survive it.

You recently started hosting a radio show. Tell us about that.

I love it. It was something I have wanted to do for a long time. I not only host the show, but I also produce it. I don’t base it on any shows that I have heard or been on. It’s me, and it’s my personality. Just like everything I have done in my career, I make it original.
People seem to like it, because it has really taken off. My listeners are increasing, and my email box has been overflowing. That is always a great sign of success.

[The show has] been on only a short time, but already I am getting offers to join larger networks. So, look for some big things to come in January.

I think when you are sincere and love what you do, it shows. People see that, and they enjoy being a part of it. Plus, listeners like honesty and originality, and that is what I have based my career on for 20 years.

Your radio co-host recently called you a pioneer. How did that make you feel? Is there another word you would use to describe yourself?

People call me a lot of things. [laugh] With everything I do in my life, I give it my all. I go in with love and integrity, not hidden agendas. I call myself happy and grateful to have been given the opportunity to have this life. If I have helped people or situations for the better, that’s a plus.

I do things out of gratitude for the life I have been given. I don’t need to read about myself in the news or see pictures of myself on the internet to know who I am, where I have been and what I have accomplished.

What’s in the future for Rebecca Bardoux?

I have just taken on a new position as director of marketing and media for Biker Lube. The company started in August 2012. They have a great new water-based sexual lubricant, and we are developing more new and exciting things to bring to sexual playgrounds all over the world.

Many years ago, I was the spokesperson for the first water-based lube to come into the adult industry. I love working on the novelty end of the business. I have created a lot of solid relationship with the companies. They were all supportive of me and very nice to do business with. I am excited to get back into that part of the industry.

I also will be performing in a mainstream play that is scheduled to open in January in Los Angeles. Thanks to that, already I have a lot of doors in mainstream opening for me.

I can never say this enough: I am one lucky woman to have this life. I never have and never will take it for granted!

How can people get in touch with you?

Find me on Twitter.