Ever since the Female Performer of the Year category was introduced 15 years ago at the XBIZ Awards, no other performer has won the honor twice, let alone twice in a row. That is, until Emily Willis made history this January as the first ever to do so.
Despite only being in her early 20s, Willis already commands a massive fan base of 2.5 million on Instagram and 820,000 on Twitter, with 447,000 likes on OnlyFans and more than 600 studio scenes under her belt. She also earned a 2021 XBIZ Cam Awards nomination for Best Premium Social Media Star.
With a unique blend of raw gonzo sex chops and high-end glam finesse, she can straddle the raunchy flair of Jules Jordan Video — whose “Hot Girl Summer” was named Gonzo Movie of the Year — and then capture the full-blown artistry of Vixen Media Group, for which she starred in the lauded showcase “Influence: Emily Willis.” Her performance in the latter title with Mick Blue and Dante Colle landed her a second trophy for Best Sex Scene.
Willis also counts among her achievements last year performing in high-profile titles like “The Red Room,” Seth Gamble’s Wicked Pictures directing debut; getting signed as the first and only contract star for Slayed.com, Vixen’s all-girl label; and electrifying the screen alongside Natalie Mars and Colle for Bree Mills’ XBIZ award-nominated Transfixed title, “Fairest of Them All.”
Reflecting on a truly groundbreaking career and a landmark 2021, Willis opens up about her tenacious work ethic, favorite projects and future ambitions in this exclusive interview.
XBIZ: After winning Female Performer of the Year in 2021, you were soon named the first-ever Playboy Plus All-Star. Tell us about that.
WILLIS: So, I was last year’s February Playboy All- Star, and it was their very first Playboy All-Star that they had done. I had no idea that they were doing this at the time or that I was going to be the first performer they were choosing for this honor. And I had just shot for them a couple of months before they announced it. I had been told that it was just going to be a Playboy Girl of the Month thing, but it was a brand-new launch.
It was awesome. They were like, “Yeah, we’re doing this, and you’re going to be the first person that we launch it with.” It was a really huge honor, and so we shot a couple of different photo series that day. And they were super good at collaborating with me on what I wanted to do, and making it for my personality and character.
So, we did a ballet theme, which was really cool. I got to incorporate my ballet history into the scene, given my background of dancing ballet since I was three or four years old. Ballet was one of the very first classes that I ever took. It was one of those classes that I always stuck with, and it was also important for me to keep doing all kinds of other dancing too. I even did competitive dancing and I liked competing throughout high school.
XBIZ: Last year you also starred in many high-profile movies, such as Wicked’s “Red Room,” which was Seth Gamble’s directing debut. Can you tell us what it was like working with him?
WILLIS: Yeah, Seth and I are really good friends, and we’ve always had a really good chemistry on camera. And he let me know that he was going to start his directorial debut, and that he specifically wanted me to be his very first scene. That was super exciting, and it’s always such an honor when anybody wants me to be a part of something.
He was really cool to work with, super chill and had his vision of what he wanted; it was very sensual and a really hot scene. It was gonzo, but he wanted to make it music video-style. With the intro and everything we did, he wanted to focus on getting those really hot shots of my body and kind of showcasing that. And we just went straight into the sex. It was awesome. He killed it. He really had his vision in mind, and what he wanted to do.
XBIZ: Then you performed in “Fairest of Them All” from Transfixed, which received several nominations. Discuss the shoot.
WILLIS: So, we did a “Snow White” theme and Bree Mills, who is super good about collaborating, asked me who I really wanted to work with. I specifically chose Natalie Mars since I wanted to work with her for the longest time. I had followed her career and I thought she was so beautiful. She’s a superstar.
Our chemistry was strong the minute I met her; I hadn’t met her in person until that day. It was like instant, instant chemistry. As soon as I saw her, I was like, “I can’t wait to have sex with her.” We were talking and vibing throughout the day on the set, which made the sex even better. And also, I hadn’t worked with Bree for a while.
It was really, really cool to be able to connect with that crew again. I had done so many things with Bree in the past, like all of my Pure Taboo scenes. Any time I’m able to work with Bree is so inspiring. Working in that scene, there was a lot of acting and it was really cool to play on the “Snow White” theme. So yeah, it was really, really incredible.
Dante Colle was also in it and he’s another great performer I instantly clicked with on set. That whole day, I want to say, it was just really good vibes all around. You can tell we all wanted to have sex with each other, haha.
XBIZ: Let’s explore your role in Jules Jordan’s “Hot Girl Summer,” which won Gonzo Movie of the Year. Discuss your scene in that movie and what it’s like working with Jules and Halston.
WILLIS: Yeah, so the year before last I did a showcase with Jules, another great collaborative director. We showed up at the set and were like, “We’re here to make really great porn.”
Halston actually directed that movie. He’s awesome. Halston has a really great genius mind where he wants to show up to set and make us, as talent, look the very best that we can — and get some really hot shots of us. You’re feeling your hottest and sexiest and most empowered with him. Basically, I get to do what I love: have sex.
I performed with Zac Wild. I had worked with him in the past, and he has a really good energy that, I think, matches my energy — it’s a strong sexual energy. He really knew what he was doing, and we did an anal scene together — which is my favorite.
XBIZ: Another gonzo studio that you performed for a lot was Evil Angel. Are there any scenes or movies that were particularly memorable?
WILLIS: I shoot with Chris Streams a lot; he’s one of my very favorite directors ever. I shot a scene with Michael Stefano for him last year that was super intense. One of the reasons why I love working with Evil Angel so much is because they stay so true to their brand; I love shooting where we’re just doing the nastiest, craziest things. So yeah, the Stefano scene was just wild. We had a lot of toys, and I was like, DP-ing myself. And every time I go on set with Chris, he’s like, “You just do what you’re here to do.”
XBIZ: You also frequently shoot with Vixen Media Group. Let’s talk about getting signed as a Slayed contract star and the debut of the brand.
WILLIS: Yeah, so I signed with them last year. I shot some really amazing projects with them. I wanted to be in some sort of contract, while still being able to shoot boy-girl for other companies as well. I think we found something that was perfect for me. I’m also their only contract girl right now for Slayed, so it’s been really fun getting to do the bigger shoots for them. They’re just amazing at always making us feel empowered and sexy and doing these high-end glamor scenes that make me feel my best. For instance, I shot a really sexy scene with Ariana Marie and Eliza Barra; both of those girls are just some of the hottest girls. And we have really great chemistry.
I worked with a lot of really hot girls last year, which is one of the reasons I love being in a girl-girl contract — I get to have sex with beautiful women. It’s fun and it’s playful, and every scene has different kinds of chemistry.
XBIZ: Perhaps your biggest title for Vixen Media Group was your big showcase, “Emily Willis: Influence.” Tell us about the creative process and what kind of collaboration you had with director Kayden Kross.
WILLIS: I’m a big fan of hers, she’s so talented. I sat down with her at a café and she said, “Tell me about you.” She asked me a lot of questions about my life, kind of like piecing together what character she could create to suit me. So I realized, “OK, what I tell Kayden in this conversation is probably going to be my showcase.” I wanted to be myself, so I didn’t hold anything back. When I got my script — Kayden can write some really cool stuff — I was kind of expecting that it was going to be some deep, dark shit.
So I was really surprised, because it was so fun. I instantly fell in love with it because it was positive and vibrant, which is so true to who I am. I think she did a really good job at portraying my personality, and just the fun, open person that I am. It was really iconic, like the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” thing that we did — and just the fashion that we did. And we did a lot of scenarios that were things that happened to me in real life, like when I met Kayden’s character in the script, that mirrored when I’d met an experienced industry figure back in the day who kind of brought me up in the adult business. That was a portrayal of how I kind of got into this business.
XBIZ: How was your chemistry when performing with Kayden Kross herself in what ended up being nominated as a Best All-Girl Sex Scene?
WILLIS: Yeah, it was amazing. I was definitely on my “A” game that day. I don’t think she had performed with many girls during that time, so it was like, “OK, I really want to be at my best. I want to have this amazing sex with her.” She’s freaking incredible, and also like, one of the hottest women. She was really able to kind of like domme me out in that scene and take control. So it was pretty surreal.
XBIZ: Tell us about the billboard campaign they rolled out for you?
WILLIS: That was also very surreal. I had a lot of great moments with Vixen last year that I’m incredibly thankful for. Finding myself on a billboard was something that I just never imagined would happen. And it was for a project that I am so deeply proud of. It’s such a dream come true, honestly.
XBIZ: One of the top scenes in that movie, which ended up winning Best Sex Scene, was with Mick Blue and Dante Colle. Describe that experience.
WILLIS: That was one of my very favorite scenes in that showcase. I’m going to humbly say that it’s one of the very best scenes that I’ve ever shot. I was just unleashing. It was like the peak of my character; it was showing me being my true porn-star self. I remember Kayden said to me, “I want you to just go freaking wild.” And I was like, “OK, I’m going to be my nastiest, craziest self.”
Mick and I have worked together so many times; I feel a lot of trust with him, and the same goes for Dante. So, it was a really great pairing. By the time it was over, it was one of those sex scenes where it was like, “Oh, wow, that was really fun.” And both of the guys were just amazing at what they did. There was never a moment where it felt like a performance. It just felt raw and natural, and I remember that I got three cumshots at the end of the scene. I remember that I really wanted it to get nominated for something, so actually winning for the scene? Thank you!
XBIZ: Let’s pivot to the 2021 XBIZ Cam Awards, where you landed a nomination for premium social media. You’re up to around 450,000 likes now. What is your approach to indie content?
WILLIS: Yeah. So, it’s amazing. I feel like I’m balancing, a lot of times, the pro scenes that I shoot for companies, and also, the scenes that I shoot for myself. I try to prioritize indie work as much as I can, shooting for myself three or four days out of the week if I’m not on set. I’m constantly trying to deliver content that is new and fresh, and keeping it exciting — which is really fun because I do different kinds of scenes.
Those types of roles are like fetishes for myself. It's definitely that creative outlet for myself, which is why I love OnlyFans. My fans are truly amazing, and that’s where your truly diehard fans support you apart from your other work. I’m super thankful to have the following that I do on there and have that side hustle going on for myself.
I definitely believe that having a schedule is what keeps me going. I’m like, “These are the days that I’m going to take solely for my OnlyFans and these are the days that I’m shooting.” Then I come home and relax so that I’m taking care of my body and can follow through with my schedule.
XBIZ: Speaking of working out amid such a busy schedule, how do you approach staying healthy?
WILLIS: Yeah, so I work out with my trainer two or three times a week. Aside from that, I do a lot of yoga at home. I think that that really keeps me sane. And I work with my trainer on my diet a lot. I’m like, “What should I be taking for supplements?” I’m really big on supplements and vitamins, knowing that I am essentially what I eat. Those are huge things. I feel like if I’m not eating correctly and am not feeding my body the things that make me feel good, I can feel my body respond and not feel right. I think that all those things play into keeping myself in top form for my work and my life.
XBIZ: When taking time for yourself, what are some hobbies you enjoy doing that are not work-related?
WILLIS: When I’m not working and I’m just relaxing, I read a lot of psychology books. I’m constantly reading anything I can; I like to expand my mind. And yeah, I do a lot of things outside and a lot of self-care such as going to the spa, doing anything to pamper myself.
XBIZ: Let’s talk about XBIZ LA, X3 Expo and the XBIZ Awards this year. What was your overall experience like?
WILLIS: Oh my god, that was amazing. We had not had an expo in like two years. Being able to see fans again was so much fun. I had a blast at the X3 Expo and at the XBIZ Awards. I was kind of nervous like, “I haven’t been on the red carpet in a couple of years,” but it was awesome. It was also really cool to see everybody in the industry again. Some of them I only get to see on set.
Then I lost my mind when I won Female Performer of the Year at the XBIZ Awards. I went in not knowing if I’d win, because I thought to myself, “They’ve never given that to anybody twice, let alone twice in a row.” I didn’t think I was going to get that. I went into the awards show being like, “OK, whatever I end up getting this year is what I’m going to get.” I was super thankful that I got it last year. So, I lost my mind. It was literally one of my biggest honors, something that I’m really proud of and something that I really worked hard to get. I’m incredibly thankful. I can’t say it enough.
XBIZ: What’s in the mix as far as upcoming projects that you’re excited about and able to shed light on?
WILLIS: I might be going to the Dominican Republic or the Caribbean for a company I really like. So it sounds like I might be having two out-of-country shoots this year, which is amazing. And I am doing a lot of things with Bree, a lot of Pure Taboo stuff this year that I’m really excited to get back into. I also have things coming up for Wicked which should be fun. A lot of what I’m doing this year is more acting roles, and a lot of gonzo stuff that I want to get back into doing. There are some more things I want to try on camera that I’m really, really excited about.
XBIZ: And what other overarching goals do you have for the year?
WILLIS: Like I said, I just want to continue to make porn that I’m proud of and that my fans are going to continue to enjoy, safely doing the things that my body allows. I also launched my website last year and I’m working on expanding it by shooting more things for myself. I want to really expand on the directing side of the business and just diversify myself as an entrepreneur.
