Nina Hartley

Marie Louise Hartman, widely recognized as Nina Hartley, was born on March 11, 1959, and has made a significant mark as an American pornographic film actress and sex educator. Celebrated for her outspoken feminist views and commitment to sexual freedom, Las Vegas Weekly lauds her as an influential advocate, while CNBC refers to her as a "legend" in the adult entertainment industry. Hartley made her debut in the adult film world with "Educating Nina" in 1984, directed by fellow performer Juliet Anderson. Over the years, she has solidified her status as a prominent figure, amassing numerous accolades from both critics and fans, and by 2017, she had starred in over a thousand adult films.

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hartley graduated from Berkeley High School in 1977 and went on to San Francisco State University’s nursing program, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors in 1985. She worked as a registered nurse until her license lapsed in 1986. Hartley's transition to the adult film industry was driven by a desire to explore her sexuality and connect with women without the constraints of traditional dating. She cites her epiphany to pursue sex work after viewing the 1976 erotic film "The Autobiography of a Flea." In 1982, while still in nursing school, she began her career as a stripper at the Sutter Cinema and later at the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre.