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Over the years, Brandy Alexandre always seemed to have a habit of turning up at unexpected times and in unexpected ways.
For example, she went to work in the adult film industry – after being raised a Mormon. Even more surprising – she was already familiar with sex movies due to a string of inappropriate older boyfriends who’d introduced her to adult theaters: the result was a teenage curiosity for the sex industry and a sizeable crush on John Leslie.
She became unlikely roommates with sex film guru Bill Margold, and, despite his attempts to dissuade her, she took the plunge and became a porn actress.
She became close to John Stagliano – both professionally and romantically – at the beginning of the huge success of his Buttman series and Evil Empire production company. And then, incongruously, she popped up on television on People’s Court, where she sued John for lost earnings.
Shortly after that, she disappeared from the business believing she’d been blacklisted from the industry as a result of the court case. A few years later, in the early days of the internet, she suddenly showed up again, this time involved in online flame wars in Usenet groups. That drama led to her being stalked, harassed, and losing her job – as well as being featured on television news shows.
Now, after two decades of silence, Brandy has re-surfaced, this time on Instagram, where she’s been sharing a remarkable collection of photographs and memories from her adult film years.
I had so many questions, and was keen for her to set the record straight in her own words.
This is Part One of Brandy Alexandre’s story.
This podcast is 47 minutes long.
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Brandy Alexandre
Brandy and her dad
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Brandy has been such an enigma to many fans over the years… always compelling, sometimes controversial, and invariably at the heart of some of the most interesting developments in the biz: this interview promises to be revelatory.
BRANDY!!! Joe here: I met you back in the CES convention, or whatever it was called back then (my memory is not what it used to be) and you were a complete babe, gracious, kind, intelligent, and stunning. I never forget you, and it is a pleasure to hear your voice again.
Very sweet episode, but you mean I have to wait a whole week for the next ep??? Too long: Lol
I would love to sit down for java and cookies, Brandy! We have a bit in common, to say the least; I’m having bittersweet flashbacks (not the acid kind, lol) while listening, like the “first time”, lol! oxoxoxox, L.A. <3
oh yeah, I grew up in a fairly atheistic home, but the no-premarital-sex for me (i dunno about my older brother) was engraved into my brain.
Awesome Article And Podcast Keep Up Good Work
Thanks Jeff!
I remember those online days well. I interacted with Brandy (I was always respectful) and it was pretty cool to have this insider to chat with. It’s always funny when you are conversing among a plethora of so-called experts and then the real expert enters the conversation. You think, oh wow, they’re really going to appreciate her! And, well, no they didn’t. It just became a shitshow. I gave up on that crowd after that. Nice to see you resurface Brandy and hope you’re doing well. I’m looking forward to listening to this podcast later tonight.
Thanks, Joeman! That’s what I thought, too! After I fought my way out of AOL, I think only Nina Hartley had a web page and I really wanted one. I started mine based off hers, both simply being a picture or two and some FAQs. I also found ASM. The problem was that the porn-adjacent people had reached godlike status with the fans, and when an actual porn star came in, it stole some of their thunder, especially if I contradicted some of the things that were said, or gave a different point of view. There was also the skepticism—understandably—that it was even really me and, well, like you said…
Hey well thanks for talking to me then. I thought it was cool that someone I was a fan of was actually cool and smart as hell. No, I never wanted anything off of you then or now so if you don’t remember me it’s no biggie. It’s probably because there was no drama with me. And hey I hope you get whatever mileage you can get from these interviews and get your book off the ground. The excerpts really are interesting. I have author friends and while it isn’t the cash grab everyone thinks, it’s important to tell your story in your own words.
I’m under no illusion for the money, but I do think it’s a good story from the aspect of the worker bee other than the superstar. And for anyone who was a fan and wants to know what went on behind the scenes.
A beautiful woman and she seems so very nice. Her look with the big seventies glasses and long hair is why I love this era of adult cinema. Women like this wouldn’t fit in todays era, which says a lot of why this era susks. Can’t wait for part two.
I was standing at the counter at the local Kinko’s here in the Eastern San Fernando Valley a couple of decades ago, when a blonde woman walked up to the counter and stood to my right. I looked at her–and immediately thought, “Hmm, where do I know this woman from?” She saw me looking at her and smiled, and just milliseconds from me saying, “Do we know each other….?”, my brain started screaming, “Abort! Abort! That’s Brandy Alexandre…! ” I’m sure I turned bright crimson, gave her an embarrassed smile, and likely turned away…
I’d probably play that differently today…
I look forward to listening to these episodes!
Aw! It would have been okay. I don’t bite… very hard. 😉
I’ve been researching and documenting the history of adult entertainment for quite some time, particularly the transition from the late-70s/80s theatrical and video era into the more personality-driven, independent world of the late 80s and early 90s, and this episode with Brandy Alexandre really struck me.
I’m not commenting simply as a fan. Brandy is genuinely interesting from a historical perspective because she represents something that is easy to overlook when people reduce this period to a list of famous names and titles. She came into the business from a very different background, became closely involved with John Stagliano and the early Evil Angel/Buttman world, and eventually had credits beyond simply appearing in front of the camera. She was involved with the writing, producing and directing of films such as *Blowing in Style*, *De Blond*, *Cheeks 5: Cop a Feel* and *Best Butte in the West*. That makes her part of the creative and production history of the period, not merely its cast.
I’ve always found *Blowing in Style* particularly fascinating in that regard. It’s one of those titles that helps illustrate how different the independent video business could be at the time—people were experimenting with concepts, personalities and formats rather than simply reproducing the same formula over and over. And of course *Buttman Goes to Rio* is historically significant for another reason, because Brandy’s relationship with that production eventually became part of the story itself, including the dispute over compensation that later played out on *The People’s Court*.
What I appreciate most about this interview is that Brandy comes across as a person who actually lived through that history rather than someone looking back on it through the mythology that has accumulated around the era. Her story touches so many different pieces of the period—the rise of Evil Angel, the early Buttman phenomenon, relationships between performers and producers, the changing economics of video, and eventually the strange transition into the early Internet. The fact that she later became involved in those early online communities makes her story even more valuable to anyone trying to understand the transition from the video era into the digital age.
There are plenty of performers from this period whose work I enjoy, but Brandy has always felt somewhat different to me. There was an intelligence and unpredictability to her career that makes her especially valuable historically. She wasn’t simply passing through the industry; she was participating in several different aspects of it and, at times, challenging the people and assumptions around her.
As someone interested in preserving this history, that’s what I found most meaningful about the episode. We tend to remember an era through its most famous performers and its most celebrated films, but the real history is often in the people who occupied the spaces between those categories. Brandy Alexandre is one of those people.
And honestly, I’m very glad she’s telling her story in her own words now. After so many years of hearing other people describe this period, having someone who was actually there come forward with her own memories, photographs and perspective is invaluable. I’m very much looking forward to Part Two.
I was hoping you’d find Brandy! She was wonderful in Blowing In Style and a joy to read in the newsgroups. Another example of a smart woman being sexy.
I was on R.A.M.E. back in the day and saw some of the heat that Usenet group generated as various industry people would vent on occasion. It was like how the AVN letters section could get in the late 80s…only x1,000. Reading R.A.M.E., for we civilians, was like getting a crash course in how the Industry was…
Great choice of Brandy’s to see ‘Exposed’ (1981) as her first porn film. I recall seeing it at the Dilly CineClub just off Picadilly in London back in the day and the film was that rare thing -a porn film with heart- as John Leslie and Sharon Kane made a great pair-the film was directed by Jeffrey Fairbanks-I wonder what happened to him?
It really was a great movie. I guess what I said about getting a “type” when you first fall in love, you also get a “type” from your first porn movie—hot and good story! Yes, you can do both.
Sensational interview – by a smart, curious interviewer and a self-aware, complex, fascinating person. Rarely does a conversation unfold with such intelligence gently revealing and uncovering the subject.
Highly enjoyable and recommended.
Thanks so much Rob!
I liked this and look forward to the next part. Unusual to see intelligence like this in the XXX biz.
We appreciate it Henrik!
I have tons of respect for both April and Brandy but had to turn this podcast off and take a break. The 35 year old fire fighter in the basement with Brandy shook me to my core. I became angry and sad this happened. I dont want to put words in April mouth but I could almost hear April say oh no this is not right. Anyways love the show and will get over myself and jump back in podcast. Thank you Brandy for sharing and much love.
I can appreciate that. In the moment, I was completely comfortable with him, and my curiosity drowned out any alarm bells someone else might have heard. But I guess that’s what successful grooming does. But I never did anything sexual with him until AFTER I did with Avi. I dunno. I just never felt endangered or harmed by the experience despite how bad it was in retrospect.
My husband and I loved her. I usually didn’t like watching adult movies, but the movies she wrote and directed especially were fun to watch. I hope part 2 covers this part of her career, but I’m happy to hear more about her personal life then and now.
So glad you’re alive despite the rumors. Same with Lisa.
Thank you! I hadn’t heard I died. Was it from something elegant or embarrassing? 🙂