Back for More: Jessica Ryan Returns With New Energy, Perspective

LOS ANGELES — Break out the cake and ice cream. Cue the confetti and alert the press. After eight years and more than 300 scenes, adult industry veteran Jessica Ryan has finally achieved a coveted milestone.“I fucked my first pool boy the other day,” says Ryan, raising her hands in triumph. “I’m actually shocked it took me so long.”Whether she’s crossing an item off her porn bucket list or experimenting with fresh trends and genres, Ryan is operating with a newfound energy this summer. In some ways, she’s making up for lost time.It wasn’t long ago that the auburn-haired Ryan was among the more well-known stars in porn, racking up more than 300 scenes in her first four years in the business. But near the end of 2017—just as it was reaching its peak—Ryan’s career took an unexpected turn. A gentleman she’d been seriously dating relocated to San Francisco, and when their long-distance relationship became too difficult, Ryan bolted for wine country to live with him.Just like that, Ryan had disappeared from Los Angeles—and the adult industry, too.“I never officially retired,” Ryan says, “but I definitely ghosted for a while.”Three years, to be exact. And Ryan made the most of them. She pursued a kinesiology degree online while continuing to operate a private healthcare business that had been her second source of income for more than a decade. She relaxed during the day and drank fine wine at night. Excursions throughout the Bay Area were common.“I thought I’d try living a normal life and see how it went,” Ryan tells AVN. “That was at a time when porn was getting a little awkward. Rates were getting weird. It was right when OnlyFans started, back in 2017. It was a good time to step away.”The break also served as an opportunity for self-discovery for Ryan. She said her job as an adult performer had caused her to lose grasp of her sexual identity.“The whole reason I got into the industry (in 2013) was to explore my sexuality,” Ryan said. “I’d just gotten out of a long-term, vanilla relationship and I had all these things i wanted to try. But how would I do them safely?“Porn gave me those opportunities. But eventually there was a blurring of the lines between performer and self. I ended up going from the craziness of gangbangs to, ‘What about just one dick? That sounds really nice.’ I started to fetishize that. Things had just gotten so extreme."I wanted to identify who I was in my personal life vs. my performer side.”Ryan’s time away clearly served her well.Three years later—after her relationship in San Francisco fizzled—Ryan returned to the adult industry with more drive and determination than ever before. In the past few months alone, studios such as Bellesa, Evil Angel, Girlsway and Naughty America have summoned Ryan for scenes. Perhaps her most memorable moment thus far is an anal romp with Mick Blue for Tushy.If there were an award for Comeback Performer of the Year, the 34-year-old Ryan would be a prime candidate.“I guess I’m in the age range of a MILF,” says Ryan, rolling her eyes playfully. “But there’s nothing really maternal about me. Sadly, there’s no category that really fits.“I’m versatile. I’d like to be in the realm of an empowered female. If only ‘horny person’ was an actual category.”As a veteran, Ryan said she’s approaching her second stint in porn with entirely different mindset.“I’ve explored my sexuality and I know myself better now,” she said. “That’s the beauty of being in my 30s. I’m no longer in discovery mode. This is where I feel the black and white contrast of categories is a disservice. Because now I’m in my prime and I know myself.“Now I’m coming into it with a business perspective, and it’s so different. It’s made it a lot more fun, actually, just being intelligent in how I interact with people, other than thinking, ‘This is going to be a good time.’ I’m still able to have a great time. But now I’m being more tactful.”To help navigate her return, Ryan enlisted the services of Motley Models, one of the top agencies the adult industry. President and CEO Dave Rock said Ryan fits the Motley profile to a tee.“When she came to us,” Rock says, “I was like ‘Wow, this girl is beautiful. She takes really, really good care of herself.’ She almost looks like Angelina Jolie in some of the photos she’s taken."Ryan said she didn’t realize how much she’d missed the adult industry until she returned. She said her healthcare job involves “a very linear way of thinking.” Being able to play different roles and characters and wear various costumes brings out a creative side in her that had disappeared.“Every day is like Halloween,” Ryan said.Ryan said she’s also noticed a positive change in porn’s younger performers.“The Gen Z performers blow my mind,” she said. “They have a lot less emotional baggage compared to my peer group. Someone like Lily Larimar … she’s so fucking good. For how young she is, she’s very professional, she’s very comfortable.”Ryan is certainly thankful for the warmth she’s felt since her return—not just from folks in the industry, but from her fans, as well. “Being gone for so long, I figured people would be like, “Hold on, wait a minute … who?’” Ryan says. “But a lot of my longtime fans are still there. It’s been a really awesome reception, almost like a big family reunion.”And Ryan is determined to give them what they want—even if it means finding another pool boy.“Come to thiiinnnkkk of it,” she says, “I’ve never seduced a pizza guy, either. That needs to happen soon.”Photography by KogaFoto