Traci Lords



Traci Elizabeth Lords (born May 7, 1968) is an American actress, singer, model, writer, producer and director. Born Nora Louise Kuzma in Steubenville, Ohio, she first gained notoriety for her underage appearances in pornographic films and magazines. At the age of only 15, Lords became one of the most sought-after pornstars. Her case became the biggest scandal to affect the adult film industry.

After her departure from pornography, Lords decided to focus on her career as a mainstream actress and enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute where she studied method acting. She made her mainstream film debut in 1988, when she was offered the leading role in the remake of Roger Corman's classic Not of This Earth. Lords followed with the role of Wanda Woodward in John Waters' teen comedy, Cry-Baby (1990), which established her as a legitimate actress. Her other acting credits include the television series MacGyver, Married... with Children, Tales from the Crypt, Roseanne, Melrose Place, Profiler, First Wave, Gilmore Girls and Will & Grace. She also appeared in films such as Virtuosity (1995), Blade (1998), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) and most recently Excision (2012) and Devil May Call (2013).

Besides her acting career, Lords is also a recording artist. She released her debut studio album, 1000 Fires, in 1995. The lead single, "Control", appeared on the soundtrack to the film Mortal Kombat (1995) and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her autobiography, Traci Lords: Underneath It All, was released in 2003 and became The New York Times best seller.