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The 1980s and 90s adult film A-lister Jeanna Fine passed away 6 months ago way too young. A few weeks after that, we shared an interview I started with Jeanne but never got to finish. It was mostly about what led Jeanna to get into the adult industry – and the discussion was rounded out by a recording Patrick Kindlon of the band the Self Defense Family shared with us. If you haven’t heard that interview I recommend listening to that too.
Absent from that podcast were Jeanna’s thoughts about her time in the adult industry itself – how she felt about films she made like Cafe Flesh 2, Skin Hunger, and Flesh & Blood; the people she worked with including Bionca Seven, Sharon Kane, F.M. Bradley, and Mike Horner; and the life her participation in the business provided including relationships with Savannah and Sikki Nixx.
In fact, there was a second part to Jeanna’s discussion with Patrick. We’ve held onto it for a while because, like the first podcast we put out about Jeanna, it isn’t always an easy listen. Jeanna doesn’t pull any punches as she shares her memories of the adult business and she comes across quite raw at times.
But in the past months I kept remembering how Jeanna urged me more than once to listen to the recordings she made with Patrick. Even when things were uncomfortable, it was clear she wanted to be heard and understood.
So here’s part two of Patrick’s recording where Jeanna is brave enough to be candid and messy and vulnerable.
With special thanks once again to Patrick Kindlon and Self Defense Family.
This podcast is 31 minutes long.
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Sharon Kane, Gloria Leonard, Jeanna Fine
Eric Edwards, Sharon Kane, Jeanna Fine, Gloria Leonard
Jeanna with Al Goldstein on Midnight Blue
Jeanne in ‘Babylon’ (1998)
Porsche Lynn, Jeanna Fine, & Angel Kelly
The Pink Ladies: Porsche Lynn, Angel Kelly, Nina Hartley, Jeanna Fine
Jeanna with Angel Kelly
The cast of Sorority Pink: Angel Kelly, Porsche Lynn, Sharon Kane, Barbara Dare, Nina Hartley
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Definitely a heartbreaking listen in many ways. However, I really appreciate the endearing sense of humor she had,which occasionally shines through the darkness.
While she experienced many losses and struggled with addiction, she also appeared to recognize her extreme highs including adoring fans and many love affairs. Her emotional recollection of the night with Gloria Leonard was beautifully conveyed.
I remember seeing some of her work when I was in college and thinking she seemed so hard, so tough. But clearly she had a very sweet, witty, vulnerable side. And I’m glad she had a friend like you, Ashley.
Photo 2 looks like Sharon Mitchell on right?
No question about it, she has a very distinct look.
I wonder if the “Michelle” she referred to was Megan Leigh. What a beauty who deserved better from life.
Riveting and quite sad. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for listening Art.
Damn she sounded rough there. I was never into her back in the day. I used to work in strip clubs and dated a lot of girls in that business back then and i learned the types to stay away from, the ones into drugs and ones who you could tell were messed up personally. She’s just had that tough and distant vibe. The type that you were just best to avoid.
Thanks so much for using my photo, which is the 2nd shot. It was taken in Los Angeles during the Legends of Erotica show. I guess it was around 20 years ago. Marilyn Chambers, Seka, Sharon Mitchell and Nina Hartley are also in the shot.
Thank you Jumbo!
Wow… You should try to do an in depth podcast about Jenna with the ppl that were in her life that are still alive . Such a sad story but very powerful . I would love to hear their perspectives and stories .
The Rialto Report does it again! Jeanna Fine was just a character though, the real “Jeanna Fine” was Angelique, and her most important role was that of mother. There is an interesting documentary which showed her true emotions as opposed to the character, it’s called: Rated X: A Journey Through Porn which you could find online for free. We only know them by the characters we see, but here we see them as the people they are/were. Here is a link: https://ok.ru/video/43029303627 I know it might sound weird coming from an agnostic, but if there’s pearly gates, Angelique woud be told “you did just fine, kid!” she was always a good performer, but when she came back after a hiatus as a dark haired goddess, she was also a better actor, probably given her real life circumstances which you could see in the doc. The doc shows the human side of Jeanna Fine: a mother, a wife, a daughter, a human. Too many labels such as drug addict, porn star, whore etc have been attached. she was human first and foremost. Which is where the Rialto Report has always come in. This interview and the previous showed her vulnerable side. If anyone was ever a fan of Jeanna/Angelique We owe her and we thank her. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/angelique-bernstein-obituary?id=60283431 God speed, Jeanna. You did just fine, Kid!
Thanks for leaving this comment James!
Great addendum to the first part. It makes me sad that we lost Jeanna.
Side note: She talked about Lemmy’s secret room. My understanding is he was heavy into Nazi memorabilia. I wonder if that’s what she was referring to, but too gracious to say it out loud.
As a Gay man I have always drawn inspiration from Jeanne. RIP.
Gee can you tell she is either HIGH or Drunk…..
First, I want to say how much I appreciate The Rialto Report for honoring adult film performers with dignity, wit, and genuine insight. Their work preserves important personal histories that might otherwise be forgotten.
I was saddened to hear of Angel’s passing. Rest in peace, Angel.
I first met Angel Payson (Jeanna) when she arrived in Los Angeles to be with my best friend, Tony, from Woodstock, New York. Tony had moved to LA for a fresh start and was working at Joe Allen’s at the time. I was living on Larabee Street in West Hollywood while working at Paramount Pictures, and the two of them moved in with me and my dog, Marcus.
I remember Angel being nervous about making her first film after being introduced to the adult film industry by Siobhan Hunter. I can still recall seeing the VHS cover featuring Angel with her distinctive short punk hairstyle. Not long afterward, Tony and Angel married back in Woodstock.
During that period, Danielle Martin often stopped by with her Pomeranian, and our apartment became something of a gathering place. Eventually, Tony and Angel separated, and Tony returned to New York City and sadly passed he passed away in his early 30’s.
During that time, I had become an active Buddhist practitioner. Looking back, that practice provided an important foundation and helped keep me grounded. While I was around people from many different walks of life and exposed to a wide range of experiences, I felt protected—both by the people around me and by the environment I was fortunate to be part of.
Over the years in L.A., I would see Angel from time to time. She came to one of my birthday parties, and later I spent time with her and the music producer Hal Willner. Eventually, I moved back to New York City to reconnect with my mother and lost direct contact with Angel, though I continued to keep tabs on her life from afar.
Hearing of her passing brings back many memories of that unique time and place. I’m grateful to have known her, and my condolences go out to everyone whose lives she touched. May she rest in peace.