Connecticut- With the release of her latest film, “The New Devil in Miss Jones,” adult film star Savanna Samson earned the unwavering admiration of both the burgeoning porn industry and scheming men the world over. Samson’s latest foray into the ruthlessly competitive (and pretentious) world of fine wine — her private label earned a near perfect rating — only further cements her role as a revered icon, a charming and articulate acquaintance and a true auteur in her craft. She’s also really, really good at having sex.

So, what does this Vivid Video celebrity do in between scoffing at doe-eyed Philistines on set? Read on: it’ll put some hair on your chest.

scene: Hey Savanna, how are things in Manhattan?

Savanna: Good. Do you want to know what I’m doing right now?

scene: Um … yes.

Savanna: Right now I’m stuffing invitations in envelopes for the opening reception of my wine label. Do you want to come? What’s your address?

scene: A fervent yes! [gives interminable Yale P.O. Box number]. So tell me about your wine label. I had no idea you were such the connoisseur.

Savanna: Well, I developed a fine Italian wine called Sogno Uno 2004. And I’m having this amazing Venetian Carnivale Ball in New York to celebrate. I just love the commodity of it all! Also, Robert Parker, a famous wine critic, gave the line 91 points. It’s all very exciting.

scene: How did you get into the winery business?

Savanna: Well, I traveled for the last six years through much of Italy, sampling and winery touring. I don’t claim to be an expert in wine. I just know what I like.

scene: On that subject, you’re a professional at having great, DVD-ready sex. I read online that your film debut was in some sort of twist on “An American in Paris” — “Rocco Meats an American in Paris” no? — and that was only six years ago.

Savanna: [laughs] That wasn’t a twist on anything — it was just a hardcore sex film. I don’t even think it had much dialogue.

I don’t know, I found the whole process to be kind of sweet. I wrote a letter to Rocco Siffredi, an Italian porn star, saying I would be in Paris and wanted to do a film. About three months later, Rocco calls me and the next thing I thing I knew I was in Paris doing porn!

I suppose I’ve always had an interest in acting. And I’ve had an interest in being in front of the camera; but with Hollywood acting, it all seems so serious. In porn I can be as ridiculous as I want in front of the camera.

scene: Was it in any way intimidating?

Savanna: It wasn’t too daunting I suppose. There was just some insecurity I had to get over: You’d think porn stars have confidence to stand naked in front of a camera — however, usually these people lack confidence. I’m a different person than I was before porn. You know? Maturity, finding yourself and whatever.

scene: To you, what makes great sex?

Savanna: Actually, most of my fantasies come from what I’ve done on camera. I just leave the set and bring that porn star sex home to a more comfortable environment where I don’t have to worry about camera angles or bad lighting.

Ultimately, I think chemistry and loving what you’re doing make for great sex. I give oral sex, for example, because I love pleasing a man that way.

scene: Where do you draw lines of intimacy in your profession?

Savanna: Well, I’m actually married to a wonderful man who supports what I do. And if I get even a spark of jealousy out of him for some of my scenes, I’ll admit that it really turns me on.

scene: Describe a typical professional day in your life.

Savanna: I’m contracted with Vivid to do six movies a year. I live in New York City and fly to L.A. to film, which usually lasts three to 14 days. When I’m on set, I usually I have to do hair and makeup really, really early. Typically, we have either dialogue days or sex scene days. Although, sometimes, we can do as many as two scenes in one day.

scene: I, literally, can’t imagine how exhausting that would be.

Savanna: Oh, gosh yes. I put all of me into it. Plus, you can get sore. Sometimes it can take three hours for a scene.

scene: I know it’s a cliche question, but what your favorite part of your job?

Savanna: Well my favorite part of my job is having sex, of course! [laughs]

I really love my job. I have a wonderful married life in New York and then I go to California to be this wild crazy thing. I also appreciate the lack of wining and dining in the profession. You just meet someone and go straight to it.

scene: What’s been the most memorable scene you’ve filmed to date?

Savanna: I just finished “The New Devil” — a remake of the original “The Devil in Miss Jones.” Actually, the old Miss Jones, Georgina Spelvin, is in it, and the Devil is played by a woman, Jenna Jameson. When I first got the script I wondered how to pull it off — it was going to take a lot of maturity. In it, I have a huge monologue while being double-penetrated. So we got into it, and it was so real, so hot. If you watch it, you can see my nails clawing into the other guys back. We just kept going. We were all just so into each other.

scene: Wow. [pause] That sounds very … rigorous. How would you describe the current adult film scene? I hear — through non-Internet based research, of course — that it’s undergone significant technological advancement since the super-8 “Debbie Does Dallas” days.

Savanna: Simply put, the market is flooded with pornos. Studios put out roughly 5,000 releases a year, and, out of all films ever released, only four are considered classics. There’s a noticeable market for remakes. To be chosen to fill Georgina Spelvin’s shoes was just a great feeling. How many ideas can you use, you know?

scene: What about the recent high-definition controversy, can you explain that?

Savanna: As porn stars, we are exposed to the world, and these invasive cameras can pick up every flaw. I mean, it’s Silicone Valley, we’re all full of scars! And no one wants to see every bit of razor stubble … it’s just too real. High definition camera work just takes away from the beauty of it.

scene: Do you think the onscreen sex is more, I don’t know, progressive or, um, acrobatic than it used to be? How much do you think the profession can change?

Savanna: People always want to see more and more and more … just see more! But I refrain from all of the gross stuff. The industry is becoming more mainstream. Therefore, it’s more decent and respectable girls. If anything, I think the films are becoming more cinematic and less about weird, kinky sex.

scene: In all of my e-mail correspondences with your publicist, she refers to you as Vivid Girl Savanna Samson. What exactly does that mean? Do you feel like more of a character or an actress?

Savanna: It’s one thing to be a porn star and quite another to be a Vivid Girl — it’s the ultimate thing you can become in the industry. A lot of other actresses have to work dozens of films a year. As a Vivid Girl, you’re the star of your own movie, and I’m proud to be that.

scene: Do you think gender roles in film have changed much from the golden, sideburned years of 70s porn? There was quite a controversy over Linda Lovelace in “Deep Throat.” Do you find your profession empowering?

Savanna: For me I think it’s very empowering. On one project, I worked for Jack Lawrence, who’s been in porn for over 20 years, and we did a film called “Tea Party,” with Brianna Banks. I remember when he cracked up while reading the script. I asked him why and he said, “Now all the dialogue for women is what used to be assigned to the men.” Women simply have more powerful roles, more aggressive dialogue … and there’s a lot less hair than there used to be.

scene: On the topic, you’re an utmost professional, top of your field. What was it like to win the AVN award for Best Actress? Do you share this with most people you know or is it something you keep private?

Savanna: It’s so exciting, really. My first year at the awards, I won Best Actress, but I was just so excited to be nominated. The following year, when I was hosting the awards, I was just so thrilled to be on stage, and then I won two awards. But I never wanted it to be about awards. But, I’ll admit, when I first won, I definitely danced around my bedroom clutching the award. You know? Jumping on the couch screaming “I won! I won!”

And, I remember, the first year I covered the incriminating words with silver stars — “best sex scene” became best … scene. But now I’m so proud of what I do. I always call my sisters — I have four of them — on award show nights to let them know. I haven’t quite gotten to calling my parents though.

scene: Coincidentally, 2000, the year of your first film, was also the year that President Bush was elected into office and since then, government has undergone a drastic shift to the right. Has this neoconservativism affected the industry at all?

Savanna: Surely not as much as they had hoped. Every day they try to shut down the industry, but I honestly don’t see any stopping it. All of the congressional hearings and denouncements, any kind of publicity just makes it more popular. Really, it just causes the industry to grow.

scene: I read that you gained fame and notoriety from your Howard Stern appearances. How do you think the media treats your profession?

Savanna: I think that people have a stereotypical way of viewing porn stars. And, fortunately, they see me and meet me, and realize that I don’t fit the mold. I just don’t fit that L.A. stereotype. I pique their curiosity. Listen, I’m a New Yorker: I love the opera, ballet and galleries. I have a cultured background that others don’t. I’m often on the set and just can’t deal with it. I’ll be talking about sex with other actresses, leave for a two-hour lunch, and come back to overhear them talking about the same thing. Sometimes, honestly, I want to say, “Read a book!”

scene: There seems to be a celebrity sex tape renaissance of late. Do you think these people, and society, owe this to stars like yourself and Jenna Jameson who’ve nearly become household names? I mean, outside of the dimly lit rooms of 15-year-old boys …

Savanna: I just don’t believe that “What? There was a camera? I didn’t know!” business. If you plug a camcorder extension cord into the wall and have sex in front of the blinking red light, you can’t pretend that it’s accidental. And it’s another thing to, in the case of Paris Hilton (sighs), just let it slip into the public eye. Now even Tom Sizemore is doing it!

It’s great, however, that it doesn’t hurt your career — it just adds curiosity.

scene: What do you see as the trajectory for the adult film industry in mainstream culture?

Savanna: I believe there’s a time and a place for anything and I simply don’t want to see porn in the theaters or on DirecTV in an airplane. As much as I’d love to walk down a red carpet, I really think the whole world doesn’t have to acclimate to something just because I’m comfortable with it.

scene: Any advice for aspiring porn stars or the sex-starved population of Yale?

Savanna: Say no to drugs!