There is a tendency to believe that Tera Patrick has been around the adult industry a lot longer than she actually has been, when in fact she hasn't been around for a decade as yet. Good performers, whatever their field, adult or otherwise, can make you believe that though, and that is certainly the case with a woman now widely regarded as one of the most influential performers in the history of the porn industry.

With a stunning mixture of English and Thai parentage in her looks, her dusky, exotic features and darkish skin have always undoubtedly been part of her appeal, an appeal that now stretches well beyond the porn market. But these looks would always ensure that Tera Patrick would be in great demand - many of the industry's biggest stars have a combination of ethnicities in their looks as porn looks for the next unique-looking star. Tera is certainly unique, no-one could deny that.

When she was 18, Tera Patrick was already involved in a modelling career, although at this stage it was more of a fashion modelling career. Dropping into debt whilst studying microbiology in 1999, she decided she could earn more money to pay herself through college by switching to modelling and softcore porn. At this stage, the career was nothing more than a part-time gig to make her enough money to survive on. But the offers started to pour in and she decided to go into porn full-time.

Tera Patrick switched to hardcore porn in 2000, but only did extensively so for as long as a couple of years. In that time though she shot many features and discovered immense popularity that resulted in her becoming a Penthouse Pet for February 2000, but she quickly regressed back to lesbian and solo action only once her star rose enough for her to start snagging gigs performing in music videos for the likes of Everlast.

In 2002, she brought a lawsuit against the Digital Playground after claiming she was not paid for several appearances that she made for them. They counter-claimed against her by suggesting that she could only perform in adult entertainment productions for them until January 2008. Some have suggested that this is the reason why she became less visible in the industry for a number of years. A similar lawsuit was brought by her against Jenna Jameson after she claimed that she had not been paid enough royalties when Jameson's company hosted her official site for several years.

In the last several years, Tear Patrick has dedicated herself more to the development of new talent within the industry alongside her husband, former rock musician Evan Seinfeld. She still performs occasional scenes but only hardcore ones with her husband, whilst her Teravision company has continued to nurture and develop new performers within the industry.

Alongside this, a talent agency was set up by the couple to, “help girls (and guys) in the business to be treated with respect and realise their true potential.” It's a noble gesture for her to make especially at such a young age, but it's clear that the industry needs big names such as her to take stands such as these. So far her talent agency is a burgeoning one although she is modest about the help and effect that it is having on incoming talent to the industry/

Whilst Tera Patrick may have increasingly taken a step back behind the cameras in recent years, her legacy that was left from only a few years of being busy within the industry continues to be felt now and will continue to do so for a fair few years to come. It's also refreshing to see a performer prepared to put something back into the industry on an almost full-time basis rather than bowing out of the industry with nothing good to say about it.

The last couple of years have seen much discussion about a breast enlargement operation that many believe she did not need to have done. But that's really beside the point and a mere footnote in her career. The porn industry needs more people like Tera Patrick.

PROFILE:-

Date of birth - July 25th, 1976
Porn aliases - Sadie Jordan, Brooke Thomas, Tera Patrick
Official website - www.TeraPatrick.com/
Debut year - 1999
Niches / genres - Glamour / hardcore
Mainstream exposure - Married to Evan Seinfeld, The Howard Stern Show (numerous times), FHM cover girl (July 2006), Aqua Teen Hunger Force (TV series, 2006)
Must-see sites - Vivid, Earl Miller, Mod FX Models
Must-see titles - Crossroads (1999), Forbidden Tales (2001), InTERActive (2007), Island Fever 3 (2004), Sex Island (2000)
Notable awards - Hot D'Or (2000), AVN Award: Best Starlet (2000), Penthouse Pet Of The Year (runner-up) (2002), AVN Award: Best Interactive Movie for inTERActive (2007).