Nina Hartley Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Nina Hartley’s Net Worth: What Is It?

With a net worth of $4 million, Nina Hartley is an American actress in adult films, a director, a feminist, and an author. Hartley has appeared in 938 adult films and has directed more than a dozen as well. The launch of her career began with her debut film, “Educating Nina,” which was incredibly successful. Additionally, she has made appearances in mainstream films like “Boogie Nights” and “Bubbles Galore.”

Background and Early Years

Born as Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959, in Berkeley, California, Nina Hartley is the youngest of four children in her family, to parents Louis and Blanche Hartman. Her parents were dedicated members of the Communist Party USA and converted to Buddhism during her childhood. In 1957, her father faced blacklisting due to his communist views. Nina graduated high school from Berkeley High School in 1977 and later earned her degree magna cum laude in nursing from San Francisco State University in 1985. She practiced as a registered nurse until her license lapsed in 1986.

Career in the Adult Industry

Nina started her journey as a stripper in her sophomore year while studying at the Sutter Cinema and then at the Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre. The film “The Autobiography of a Flea” inspired her, being the first adult film directed by a woman, Sharon McNight.

Her focus shifted to adult acting in her junior year, initially posing for magazine spreads in publications such as “High Society” and “Hustler.” Hartley made her adult film debut in “Educating Nina,” where she was mentored by Juliet Anderson, a fellow adult film actress. She adopted the stage name Nina Hartley because it was easy for Japanese tourists to pronounce, and the name “Hartley” resembled her original last name while also sounding like that of an authentic individual.

Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, Hartley appeared in numerous spin-offs of the “Debbie Does Dallas” series, including “Debbie Duz Dishes” in 1986 and “Debbie Does Wall Street” in 1991. Her directorial debut came with “Nina Hartley’s Book of Love” in 1992. For several years, she traveled across the U.S. and Canada as a stripper while also making personal appearances at adult stores nationwide.

Roles in Mainstream Films

In the successful 1997 film “Boogie Nights,” Hartley portrayed the unfaithful wife of William H. Macy’s character. Additionally, she was featured in the Canadian film “Bubbles Galore” released in 1996. That same year, Nina made a notable appearance in Tupac Shakur’s music video for “How Do U Want It?”

Activism and Sex-Positive Initiatives

In 1994, Nina launched a widely recognized series of instructional videos focused on sex, branded under her name. She frequently participates in talk shows and conferences discussing the adult film industry, often alongside significant personalities like Jenna Jameson. In 2006, she published “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Total Sex.” Moreover, in 2012, she co-authored the series “How to be Kinkier” and appeared in the documentary “After Porn Ends,” where she shared her insights on life following her career in adult films.

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Nina made her appearance in the acclaimed documentary “Sticky: A (Self) Love Story” in 2016. She was present at the documentary’s premiere in Las Vegas at the Erotic Heritage Museum, where she participated in a Q&A panel alongside fellow adult film actress Ginger Lynn and the film’s writer, producer, and director, Nicholas Tana. Within the documentary, Hartley shares her perspectives on self-love and sexual education, reflecting her sex-positive beliefs.

As a board member of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, she has consistently advocated for the rights of the adult film industry. Over the years, Nina has given lectures at numerous universities, including Dartmouth, Harvard, and her alma mater, Berkeley. Eric Schlosser interviewed her for his book “Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market,” where Hartley expressed her critical stance on the hypocrisy surrounding anti-porn actions and legislation.

Awards and Accolades

Throughout her extensive career in the adult entertainment industry, Hartley has received numerous accolades. Among them are nine Adult Video News Awards, which include Best Actress for Debbie Duz Dishes, the Best Couples Sex Scene Film award for Amanda By Night II from 1987, Best Supporting Actress for The Last X-Rated Movie, and the Best Specialty tape for “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Spanking,” among others. Additionally, she has been honored with seven XRCO Awards. In 1988, she was recognized with the Free Speech Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award. Hartley is also a three-time recipient of the FOXE Female Fan Favorite award, winning consecutively in 1990, 1991, and 1992. The Fanny Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon her in 2014, followed by the XBIZ Award for Best Non-Sex Acting Performance in 2019 for her role in “Future Darkly: Artifamily.”

Personal Life

Hartley identifies as bisexual in her personal life. From 1981 to 2000, she was in a relationship with both a man and a woman. She married her male partner in 1986; however, they divorced in 2003. The year following her divorce, she wed porn director Ira Levine, and they currently maintain an openly polyamorous relationship.