Sasha Grey keeps traverse starting with the grown up industry into mainstream entertainment: The California girl's big break came last year after being cast as a high class call girl in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience. She's since performed on stage in New York and is guesting on HBO's Entourage as Vinnie Chase's galpal. Next year, Grey costars with Rob Lowe, Carla Gugino and Thomas Jane in the anticipated thriller Melt With You.
But some old X-rated habits die hard -- Grey's on full view in October's Playboy and is coming out with a photograph-rich book, Neü Sex, documenting her rarely boring life.
The last year or so has been pretty crazy.
It's been intense. Once Girlfriend Experience hit, everything opened up. One big success story after another. It's been a little luck and a lot of work. I continue to work hard.
How is `Entourage'?
It's always difficult coming into a show that has been on awhile. The cast has their camaraderie already built, but they have been great. I felt like I belonged here.
Is there a lot of improv with that show?
No. They are very adamant about the script as each show is 28 minutes. It is very tight, very concise. There is some experimentation with some of the scenes, but not much.
Do you study acting?
I took theater classes from age 12 to age 18, and now I'm back in it. To continue in acting it's a necessity, otherwise you get stagnant.
Tell us about your book.
Neü Sex is on my sex philosophy through photos and an essay. I talk about experiences that I never talked about in an open forum. It should be out before Christmas.
You're only 22. How did you build your career so quickly?
I'm very cautious about every decision I make and am aware of the situations I put myself in. When I started in the adult industry when I was 18, I didn't have a lot of help, no PR person, no agent. I used social networking -- MySpace, when it was relevant -- and tried to connect that kind of grassroots buildup. My age added to the opportunities, and I used that to my advantage.
What was the Playboy shoot like?
I got to wear a wig with short bangs, short hair. I look like a Russian spy girl.
How do you think you are perceived?
Shocking is always controversial and yet great for marketing. Interesting sometimes has to be controversial.