Inari Vachs
Questions & answers
These are the questions fans most often ask about Inari Vachs, from her unusual stage name to the long gap in her career.
Where was Inari Vachs born?
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the Midwest, with time in Chicago before moving to Southern California.
How did she get her stage name?
Inari comes from a Japanese deity associated with prosperity and foxes; Vachs is a nod to the crime novelist Andrew Vachss.
When did she start performing?
She filmed her first adult scene in November 1997, at the age of twenty-three.
What was she known for on screen?
She was a petite, dark-haired performer with a direct, conversational style and a range that covered feature drama, comedy and gonzo.
Did she win any major awards?
Yes. AVN named her Female Performer of the Year in 2000, and the XRCO gave her its Best Actress award that year. The XRCO inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2010.
Why did she leave the industry?
She stepped back in the early 2000s to pursue other businesses, spend time abroad and become a mother. She has described the break as lasting about eight years.
What did she do during the hiatus?
She ran businesses outside adult entertainment, lived outside the United States for a period and raised a child.
What was her comeback film?
Harder, produced by skinworXXX and Adam & Eve, was the centerpiece of her 2010 return and featured her in five scenes.
Did she own a production company?
Yes. She founded IV Multimedia in 2003 and worked as a producer and director under that label.
Was she ever a contract performer?
No. She said she never signed an exclusive performing contract because she wanted to keep control of her name and likeness.
Did she appear in mainstream media?
She co-hosted the Playboy TV series Naughty Amateur Home Videos in 2005.
Where should someone start with her films?
Begin with the feature work from 1999 to 2001, then watch Harder to see how her persona translated to the later market.