This tall, leggy redhead is the original "stimulus package," having grown up in Washington, DC! She stands a voluptuous 5'9". Her beauty made her a natural for modeling, and she has appeared in Bizarre, Secret Magazine, Leg Show, and various fetish photo anthologies as well as Playboy TV. Her mainstream appearances include VH1 and G4 Television's "Attack of the Show."

Julie was born on February 19, 1974 in San Antonio, Texas, but considers herself a DC girl all the way. She's both a performer and director, having first stepped behind the lens in 2000. She has appeared in and directed fetish and bondage films for studios like GwenMedia, BD Video, Vicious Vixxxens, Ignite Video (Fetish Zone Series), Abigail Productions and Harmony Concepts, and her own Julie Simone Productions, among others. She's usually the dominant one in any scene, and she's a natural at it. Most of her work is all-girl, though there are occasional male-female scenes.

1. You were voted Best Rigger in the Industry in 2004. How did you come to shibari?

Shibari appealed to me because like with most things the Japanese do, it was an art form and I like to think of myself as an artist. When tying someone in this style, I felt creative, the ropes and shapes took on a life of their own.

2. Actually, let's backdate that and make it how did you find your kinky side? Work or play?

Before I knew about fetish I knew I liked to be thrown up against a wall or held down... I didn't know about BDSM or any other fetishes for that matter, until I started modeling.

3. Regarding fetish. You feature many fetishes in your films. Latex, Filmdom, Master, Feet, Smoking, Shibari, Spanking, just to name a few. When you write a script do you have scenes in mind, then write around that, or do the scenes manifest during the writing process?

It depends. For the Vicious Vixxxens series Aiden Starr and I typically write those together so we sit down with our lists of things we want to include and then write a scene order around them. For my other projects, they're a little more organic in that I sit down to write and the action flows.

4. Do you have fetishes that you take home with you? By this I mean, are you a domme in your personal relationships, or do you like to let go and be taken care of yourself? Are you a cuddle on the couch with a good movie gal?

My last boyfriend was a masochist and I was really excited about it, but he wouldn't do scenes with me. It's hard for most men to submit to their partners, unfortunately. Typically if I'm dating a woman I'm the top and with men I prefer to be the bottom, though my ideal situation would be to have a male switch who was really into feet. I have a HUGE foot fetish, but keep dating men who aren't into feet :(

I am definitely a cuddle on the couch kind of girl. I am very private in many ways, I prefer to play at home, rather than in public.

5. What's Julie Simone like at home? If we were holding this interview in your living room, what would I see?

My living room has a big bookshelf, 2 computers, a chaise lounge. You might see one of my 2 cats...

6. You've tried your hand at all aspects of this business. You've acted, directed, produced, modeled.... Have I left anything out? Was it hard to move behind the camera? Is there resistance to a woman taking charge of her material?

I also edit, shoot a lot of my own material, do photography, and do the lighting... It wasn't hard to move behind the camera, but it definitely affected my ability to get modeling work. Rigging had the same affect. Photographers were nervous the whole time we shot, paranoid I was judging their every move and knot, when I was happy to not have to be in control.

I don't think there's a resistance, but there is a backlash.

7. Women like you, Kumi, and Darenzia (I always think of you three in the same group) have not only defined yourselves in the industry, you've defined the industry itself to suit your vision. Do you ever think that your success has maybe cleared a path for other women to control their own image, and content? It's a big deal! You will be spoken of in Women's Studies, and Sociology classes for decades! Camille Paglia should cover this!

Jillian Ann is one of the first ones who did it, actually. I learned a lot from her, even though I had more experience than she did when we met in 2000. I don't see what I've done (or any what any of the other women have done) to be anything special. It's how it's supposed to be. Unfortunately, when one speaks her mind or tries to maintain some control the words "diva" or "bitch" get thrown out there. I don't think that's going to change. Now people just have more models to compare the newbies who have their shit together to...

8. You're sober now, and you are to be commended for that. Has sobriety, and the changes necessary to maintain that, altered your outlook on your work? Is there a new voice for Julie Simone?

Not really. I was never one that sat around and drank or used. It has given me a different outlook, helped me to examine certain "friendships" and my activities. A big part of the reason I drank was I have horrible social anxiety. Now I just don't go to places or hang around people who make me anxious. Before I tried to just numb it or convince myself I was having fun...

9. What's your favorite project with which you've been involved? I recently saw a pic of you and Michelle Aston (another smart woman I love) at Bar 107. I know she (Michelle) is one of the models on your site. You two together.... Yowza.

I actually shot Michelle and Gia Paloma together for a video I directed for Abigail Productions called "Lesbian Love, Vol 1"... We haven't worked together in a scene yet. My favourite project changes all the time. I do have a certain affection for "Dolly Dreams" the first video I directed for GwenMedia. "The Jogger" was an important video for me, though it was hell as an experience... "Audition" is the project of which I'm most proud though.

10. What's on the horizon for Julie Simone? I see you have an e-book available in your store. Pretty cool!

A fan compiled all my older journal entries (2000-2005) and made an e-book. I've actually been thinking of taking it down since I went through some really dark times back then. It's kind of embarrassing to me now how melodramatic I was sometimes! I'm a very different person now, we all grow up at some point.

I'm editing a lesbian horror movie right now for Abigail Productions called "House on Horny Hill", then will be editing "Smoking Interviews 3" and "Vicious Vixxxens V : Breaking Berlin". I will also be filming "Slavery, A Love Story : Vol II" for Gwen Media. That should keep me pretty busy until the end of the year :)

11. Do you see yourself in front of the camera much?

I'm usually in most of my productions. I don't work with other companies very often, mainly because my own company takes up a lot of my time. I recently lost 25 pounds and have been modeling here and there. I plan on going on tour in Sept and Oct : San Francisco, Boston, NYC, and Washington DC.

12. This is a gimme. Ask yourself whatever, and answer as you are moved. If your heart says something let it out. If your business mind says something, that's all good too.

ack! I don't have a question in mind!

13. Well, Julie. Thank you for your time. Everything I've seen/heard/read about you makes me think that I'd like you as a person, independent of the Icon. In my short time writing for Quips and Chains, and Social Kink, I've found the fetish/glamour models to be the smartest, funniest, and oddly enough, dorkiest people. I love it that you have successfully branded yourself, and broken away from the production porn machine (snore), to really make Art. I have tremendous respect for you, as a person, and your work. I wish you every success and happiness, and I will always, in my small way, blow your horn.

Thank you very much. I try to make my work artistic, I'm happy to hear you appreciate my efforts. I've gotten a lot of flack about it over the years, but I was convinced that there were people like me who wanted it to look good, who wanted it to have a deeper meaning.

For more of Julie Simone check out the Social Kink VOD!

And of course the Quips and Chains blog has lots more fetish fun for your entertainment