Nudity Content Must Be Over 18

Paige Richards

Interview by David Lee

Paige Richards’s prolific modeling in the world of BD/SM--and in fetish videos such as Tied in Time and Future Famous Feet--caught the attention of the folks over at Seduction Cinema. Her provocative beauty coupled with a robust sexuality led to appearances in three films for the company including Lord of the G-Strings (2001) and a lead role alongside Misty Mundae in My Vampire Lover (2002).

It is her most recent film, however, that promises to catapult Paige onto the radar of skin-flick fans everywhere. She will star in Cult Epics’s (best known for reparatory sex and horror releases) Bettie Page: Dark Angel (2003), a biopic based on a portion of the life of the original “Bondage Queen” Bettie Page. Her uncanny resemblance to the ’50s icon and experience in the bondage field makes her the perfect candidate for the role. Cult Epics has implemented a large ad campaign for the film (only their second in-house production), which should introduce Paige Richards to many unfamiliar fans.

She’s a bondage star on the cusp of reaching a larger audience and generating new interest in the genre she loves. Paige’s mysterious and undeniable physical appeal, immense love for the genre, and incredible drive to create quality product may just make her the heir to Bettie’s throne.

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Did Bettie Page have any influence on your choice to go into bondage?
I don’t think so, I really don’t. Because to be honest with you . . . I mean, of course, I knew who she was, but I was not really influenced by anything. I don’t know what my influences have been to go into bondage. But I think it’s more of a personal kink, to tell you the truth. I think that’s what it is, it’s something I enjoy. She’s influenced me in other ways more, but no, I really don’t think so.

It’s amazing how much you actually look like her.
Yeah, it is amazing. And I never put it together until I moved to L.A. A lot of people were like, “You look just like Bettie Page,” and I’m like, “Really?” And then I started looking at her pictures [more] and I was like, “I look just like her!” And then I showed my mother a book and she thought she was looking at her child. She was amazed! She was like, “It’s like you guys are twins.” So I think the casting for that was great in all aspects. I’m glad I did it and I think I brought her character to life somewhat, because we do have actually a lot in common too. So . . . it was fun.

Were you a fan of Bettie’s prior to shooting the film?
Oh yeah, I was a fan of hers. I mean I’ve been influenced by her, I think everybody who’s in the genre has been. But I wasn’t like hardcore “Bettiemania” or anything, you know, I see a lot of that. I wasn’t like that. I never wore my bangs out or anything. The movie’s kind of creating a new image for me and I like it. It’s just, there are other facets too.

What was the biggest challenge you faced portraying such a well known person?
It wasn’t really difficult playing her, because we’re actually very similar in a lot of ways. The biggest challenge was trying to capture something that’s not “capturable”. I mean, you can’t be Bettie Page. You just can’t. There’s only one and you might strike a pose and it’s good and it’s convincing, but it’s not anything like her. No matter how hard I try . . . on her worst day it’s my best day. And that’s just a fact. Some people have every element that makes it special and she had every element. I have a lot . . . she had ALL of them. That makes you a star. That makes people, when you walk by, they break their necks to look at you. And she had all of those qualities. It’s hard trying to keep up with that. It was not only hard, it was impossible.

I read that the movie opened to mixed reviews at the San Francisco Indie Fest. Why do you think that is?
This movie, from what I can see, is not going to be for everybody. It’s just not, and that’s honest. It’s very steeped in fetish-oriented material and it’s shot like a movie from the ’50s. That was the intent, to actually take you back. Some people don’t get it. It’s like it’s over their heads. They complain about it being shot a certain way and I’m like, “That’s the point!” It’s supposed to be like a movie from the ‘50s, not like a movie from 2004.

Do you actually re-create any of Bettie’s famous old films directed by Irving Klaw?
Yeah, and they’re awesome. There’s like five or six different scenes and, again, if you’re not into the scene, or if you don’t understand where any of this is coming from, you’re probably not going to like these scenes, because they’re the real deal. They’re re-creations of what the scene was [like] back fifty years ago.

What is it about bondage that appeals to you?
I don’t know. A lot of people can remember an incident, you know, like, “I saw this movie,” or, “My neighbor tied me up,” [laughs]. I don’t know, I just find it appealing. I think that I’m kind of a real assertive person in everyday life and I just like to give away all that power, or whatever. Just lay back, get tied up.

Is it an aesthetic appeal?
Aesthetics definitely. And also I like the feel of the ropes, I like to be challenged, you know, see if I can get out of something. And I like being controlled a little bit.

How did you make the transition into acting?
Well, it was Seduction Cinema. They contacted me about doing a movie in 2000 or 1999, something like that. At the time they were doing a lot of spoofs and they just needed girls that had a certain look. So I went and worked with them--loved it--and kind of caught the acting bug a little bit I think. I did more higher-quality productions with them [and] really enjoyed it. I just had a profile up of me being a model and they contacted me via that and that’s kinda how things got started in that direction.

How was it working with Misty Mundae?
Oh, she’s great. She’s great. She’s really a beautiful, beautiful girl. My first scene I ever did with her, she was lying down on the couch and I was over her and I swear she looked like an angel. Her hair was flowing, she had these big humongous blue eyes . . . She’s a sweet girl and beautiful and she’s a great actress.

What goes on at Paigebound.com?
Well, Paigebound.com is a site that I run, expressing myself. These are all things I enjoy doing. It’s mostly bondage, damsel in distress, a little S&M, and some just “pretty girl” stuff. Basically it’s my interest in the BD/SM world.

Tell me about Tied in Time?
Yeah, I wrote that and directed it and starred in it and produced it. It was a great project, my webmaster and I, Mike Binder, we did it together and we had a great time doing it. And that’s the first of many. We have another one that we shot we just haven’t--he hasn’t finished editing it yet.

And finally, what is Paige Richards going to be doing five years from now?
I want to be doing my own production, 100 percent, working for myself, producing my own movies. They will all encompass bondage and S&M in some respect, but I want them to have nicely written scripts and to be shot really, really well. Five years from now is about the time length in which I want to be completely doing my own thing.