Wow guys, tough crowd!
I think she's better as a producer than an actress. Burning Angel has been around for a long time and when they first started Joanna Angel was a big part of that success. It's been interesting to watch her career progress.
This guy is absolutely fascinating, he's another person I follow in the porn industry.
Huge teenaged female following on Tumblr, which is
kinda neat.
Lexi Belle has this really wholesome appeal, her dirty talk is up there with Jenna Haze (now, not when she started) and her scene with Mick Blue in New Releases 6 is to die for, even though that's a throw back. Lexi (Elegant Angel) shows her with him again and although it's not as good IMO, it's a well-done movie and a testament to why she's become so popular.
Asa Akira almost always looks like she smells something bad but that works for a lot of her scenes and she worked a lot in 2012. Bobbi Starr was on 2011's list and her views on pornograpy are really interesting and pro-female. She produced some fantastic films for Evil Angel last year.
I see why almost every one of these people is on the list and I don't think it's a studio decision, especially because they're not all with the same studio and Allie Haze has been independent since 2011. As the focus of pornography shifts, so do the stars. I'd argue looks are only part of porn these days and not the entire picture; there's a lot more attitude, passion and an attempt to undo the "stagedness" of older films. Enthuasiasm counts more than ever and is hotter, in my opinion. Almost all of these women are ones you would turn your heads to watch on the street or notice if they were part of your real life experiences, I think it's a little ridiculous to say they're not attractive (Lily Carter, Allie Haze, really now?! They're pretty!).
There are also some actors I think should have made the list that haven't (should Remy LaCroix be there if she's retiring?). I think Manuel Ferrara and Evan Stone are classic actors (
holy crap, Christina Rose, GREAT JOB! It's an old clip, but it's still one of my favourites and me as both of their fans) and should be on any industry top list, even though they've been working for a few years. Alexis Texas had a great year and signed with Adam and Eve in September. I think that's going to be an epic pairing, especially because more and more women watch pornography and Adam and Eve tends to be one of the female/couple friendly companies. Stoya should probably be on there too, given the popular of the manic pixie dreamgirl stereotype in 2012. Add Jayden James for Jayden James Unleashed (those boobs!) and Kayden Kross for Body Heat with Manuel Ferrara and that's my top list for 2012.
(Notably absent: Jenna Haze, Kagney Lynn Karter, Tori Black, Jessi Jane and Jenna Presley, all for good reasons.)