Few people have a porno pedigree like Holly Randall. The daughter of famed erotic photographer Suze Randall, Holly has risen through the ranks to become one of the most sought after pornographers in the biz. With the release of Forbidden Encounters 2, we spoke with Ms. Randall on everything from her acclaimed podcast, the late Larry Flynt, to what makes a great porn star.
JH: Is there anything “forbidden” or “taboo” that you’re dying to film but haven’t been able to yet?
HR: Not really, I’m a little more on the vanilla side when it comes to directing. I’m more about creating a beautiful, cinematic scene rather than trying to push boundaries. There are so many other directors doing that.
I’m so sorry about the passing of Larry Flynt, I know that he was important to you and your family. What’s something that you think the world should know about him that the mainstream might not appreciate?
Larry is someone who remembers the people who were there before he was famous. He has a sense of loyalty to those who were working with him in the beginning—people such as my mother, which is why he always felt like a kind of uncle figure to me, and he was always so kind to me. Also that he really didn’t care what people thought about him—he never backed down in the face of what he believed in, no matter what the consequences. That takes a lot of bravery.
What’s your secret to getting the perfect shot of a model?
Making her feel beautiful. You have to build a foundation of trust and respect—make the model feel good about herself, and you’ll get good shots. It’s all about empowering your subject.
What do you think makes for a great porn star?
Someone who truly loves sex and isn’t just in it for the money. Because, as Asa Akira once said on my podcast, if it’s just about the money, no matter how much you make, it’ll never be enough. You have to really love what you do, because putting yourself out there in such vulnerable way, and accepting a lifetime of stigma attached to your career is a big commitment. You have to be all in.
What’s the most invaluable lesson you learned from your mom, the famed photographer Suze Randall?
To always make the models feel beautiful and comfortable. Your model is the most important person on set and everything depends on how she feels about herself.
You spend a lot of time posting your mom’s shots of classic performers, and your fans seem to love it. What do you think keeps fans coming back for the classics and what do you think makes a XXX model timeless?
Back then you really had so much time to perfectly craft a shoot. Nowadays you have to get so many looks, so much content in one day that everything is a bit rushed. I think people appreciate the effort and thoughtful composition of the photos.
You’re also the host of your own hit podcast, Holly Randall Unfiltered. Who do you think was your best guest and why? Since XXX is such a visual medium and podcasting is the opposite, have
you had any challenges with that format?
Well I’ve had so many amazing guests it’s really hard to narrow it down, but ultimately I can always safely default to my very first episode, which was when I interviewed my parents. That’s such a good one because not everyone knows my family’s backstory, and both my mom and my dad are so funny and interesting. I actually capture video with every single one of my podcast episodes, which I post on my YouTube channel, and those versions get higher views than the audio format gets listens. I always knew the importance of the visual format, and I didn’t cast it off with the podcast. The only issue I have now is that I have to do all the interviews remotely, and with the level of technical perfection that I want, it’s a big ask of my guests, since not all of them have the necessary recording equipment to make for a seamless podcast. But we do our best!
What makes you feel sexy?
Oh man… being a new mom, I haven’t felt sexy in a while, so I hardly remember. A good hair day, I think.
What projects do you have coming up in 2021?
I’m working on a documentary about my mom! It’s a huge project but I’ve already started doing interviews and piecing together the storyline… it’s a big undertaking but I’m very excited about it.
Any final words for your fans at HotMovies?
Thank you for supporting me! Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am truly grateful for your support.
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