Ethnicity Afro-Latina Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | Name Vanessa Rio | |
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Full Name Ana Maria Sanchez Other names Ursula Pasarell, Nessa, Diane Richards, Violet Reason, Ursula Passarell, Vanessa delRio Website Similar Christy Canyon, Seka, Juliet Anderson | ||
Vanessa del Rio (born March 31, 1952) is an American retired pornographic actress.
Contents
- Vanessa del Rio
- Vanessa Del Rio where did you get that name
- Early years
- Career
- Popular culture
- Academic and Feminist Interpretations
- Filmography
- Selected television appearances
- Awards
- References
Vanessa del Rio
Vanessa Del Rio, where did you get that name
Early years
Vanessa del Rio was born Ana Maria Sanchez and raised in Harlem, New York, the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Her mother would take her to see movies of Isabel Sarli whom Vanessa credits as a big influence in her life. She left a job as a computer programmer in her early 20s and became "a waitress, then barmaid, then go-go dancer" becoming a porn actress because "they paid $150 a day, which was exactly my half of the rent". Prior to adult films, she also worked as a streetwalker and call girl.
Career
Del Rio began appearing in adult films in 1974. In the span of about 12 years, del Rio has appeared in about 100 pornographic films. and in several music videos, notably "Get Money" by Junior M.A.F.I.A., who also refer to her in their song "I Need You Tonight." She is known for having a particularly large clitoris.
Though del Rio retired from adult films in 1986, in part due to the AIDS scare prevalent at the time, after a stint as a bodybuilder she returned to feature dancing and doing magazine layouts. Afterwards, she remains somewhat active in the adult entertainment industry through her Web site and by making special appearances at award shows and conventions. During and after her porn career, she appeared on many TV shows as herself, including a 1996 episode of NYPD Blue. In 2008, she made a cameo opposite Bernie Mac in the film Soul Men.
Popular culture
In 2007, the German art book publisher TASCHEN released a deluxe, heavily illustrated biography, Vanessa del Rio: Fifty Years of Slightly Slutty Behavior.
A feature film based on del Rio's life is expected to begin production in 2017 written by and to be directed by Thomas Mignone.
Academic and Feminist Interpretations
Numerous feminist scholars, with a focus on the intersections of race and sexuality, have explored the contributions and life story of Vanessa del Rio in their research. Mirelle Miller-Young, in her book "A Taste for Brown Sugar: Black Women in Pornography," examines the influence of racial perceptions within the adult film industry and highlights del Rio as one of the pioneering women of color to gain notable recognition. Additionally, Juana María Rodríguez, a queer theorist and scholar in Latina studies, delves into del Rio's biography in her analysis, considering del Rio's perspectives on violence, pleasure, and victimization. Rodríguez's work challenges prevailing middle-class feminist views on sex work by drawing from del Rio's experiences.