Porn Star Interview: Matthew Anders

BY VINCENT LAMBERT

Matthew Anders is looking scruffy, sporting stubble and walking around his cabin in bare feet. The blond bottom from Warsaw, Poland, is one of the featured performers aboard the inaugural Pillage & Plunder Cruise to Key West, Florida, and tonight is the no-holds-barred live sex show that many of the passengers have been waiting for. At age 27, Anders has gone from appearing in softcore features for Pride Video to starring in Falcon productions such as High Tide. Recently, he has taken to performing exclusively with his boyfriend, Chris Michaels. The duo, who sport matching tattoos, has appeared together in The Cream Team and Daddy Please. As Michaels chats with friends in the other room, Anders sips water and talks about his adventures in porn. It is December 11, 1999.

How did you get started in the porn industry?
It all began in 1995 when I moved to London. I was living in Canada.
But you are from Poland.
Yes, I moved to Canada when I was 15. My parents moved there.
What was it like growing up there?
It was great. I love Canada. But in 1995, I moved to London for two years and I saw an advertisement in Gay Times, which is a gay magazine there. They were looking for models, and I sent my snapshot and they liked it. And I did a layout.
It was nude modeling?
Yeah, I did a layout for the magazine, then I started getting phone calls.
How did you feel about posing nude?
Weird. Just because I had never done it before. I had to ask the photographer to leave the room every two seconds—especially when he needed the hard-on shot.
Did you feel secure in your looks?
No, I think I look better now, but some people like the little-boy look. And that is what I looked like.
How old were you?
I was 22, but I looked 18.
Did you like that first layout?
I didn’t, but everyone else did.
And from that you got other offers?
Yes, for regular modeling and movies and nudes.
So, what made you decide to go the porn route?
Actually, I did a little bit of everything, but the main reason I stayed with the gay porn was because it was a new experience. And it was weird, but I just loved showing my body naked. That’s the truth. But I am probably more shy now than I was before.
Do you enjoy it?
I just love looking at naked models, especially myself. I hope that doesn’t sound too conceited. (Laughs)
Growing up, were you attractive?
I was okay. I wasn’t on the top-10 list, but I looked good. My mother would always dress me up. She was a seamstress. I took care of myself. I think that is when I started coming out of the closet.
Does your family know you’re gay?
Yes, they do.
And how do they deal with that?
I never really told them. It just happened on its own. There is no problem. They love me whether I fuck ass or I fuck pussy.
How old were you?
About 16, I guess. That is when I started going to gay clubs in Canada.
When was the first time you were with a guy?
When I was 17.
Had you been with women?
Yes, and I still can find women beautiful and sexy, but that is not what I want. I am definitely gay. I made that choice many years ago.
Did you jerk off a lot when you were younger?
I used to beat off a lot when I was younger and single, but now that I have my boyfriend, I don’t have to jerk off anymore. We fuck like bunny rabbits all the time.
What was your experience with porn growing up?
I saw some magazines when I was 12.
And what did you think?
It was kind of interesting. It was men and women. Then, in Poland, because of religion, homosexuality was banned completely.
Did you ever think you would do it?
No. If you were to tell me six years ago that I would be working for Falcon or Catalina, I wouldn’t believe it. I used to watch guys in porn movies, then all of a sudden you are friends with them. It changes the whole thing.
So, what was the first movie?
The first one I ever did was for Pride Video and [director] Mike Esser. I did three or four for him. Then some for Euro Boy, Fowler Press. It seemed so easy. Everything was basically faked, except for kissing. All they needed was nudity. Then I went back to Canada from Britain and sent my pictures to Falcon. Then I did High Tide for Falcon Studios in ’97. And they put me as a main star; it was kind of scary.
Why?
Because I don’t sleep around, and I was always very picky about who I would be doing anything with. And having anal sex for me is very personal. So going and doing a movie and not having anal sex for a year and then being fucked by three guys, one after another with nine-inch cocks, wasn’t easy.
Who were the guys?
Mike Branson, Sebastian Cruz and someone else. It was scary and different. And the crew was so big. I was, like, Oh, my God, I have an audience. I had never experienced that. I am a very private person. No one knew anything about me. No one knows who I sleep with. No one knew if I was a top or a bottom, then all of a sudden, I am having sex with three guys in front of 12 people!
Did Falcon sign you up as an exclusive?
No, I didn’t want to. But I did three movies for them. I wanted to work with other video companies, too.
Do you have a favorite movie that you’ve done?
I think High Tide is one of the best. I love Soaked, which Chi Chi LaRue directed. Nice-looking men, clean-cut, good energy in the scene.
Do you have a type?
I like guys with brown eyes, dark hair. My boyfriend, Chris, has everything I like in a man. That is my perfect type.
Any favorite scene or partner?
It’s hard to say one. I don’t get to pick my partners. I would say 97 percent of the guys are not my type. I did a scene with Mike Henson in California Kings, but there were no sparks flying. It was work.
When were the sparks flying?
I have fun with most of the guys. I would say the scenes in High Tide and Soaked. I liked the cast. I give the credit to Falcon Studios. (Laughs)
Any truth to the rumors that you and Tom Chase did not get along on High Tide?
Everything is a rumor! (Laughs) I got along with Tom very well. It was fun working with him, and he is a unique person, in every way and size.
Was doing porn a premeditated career choice for you?
No, I was just doing it for fun. There was no particular reason I got into it. I just wanted to experience it. I liked the money, too. Of course, after doing the Falcon movie, I never got an agent. I am an agent for myself. I can promote myself very well. I sent out my photos to all the video companies, and they all responded. The second movie I did was Catalinaville, then I worked for All Worlds and other smaller companies. Then it became a career because I was doing one movie a week. It was great. I didn’t have to do a regular job. I never went into escorting or massage.
What did your family know at this point?
They knew I did movies, but they will never see them. I don’t keep secrets from my family. We are very open.
How did you feel about watching yourself?
Embarrassed. I’ve watched a couple, just out of curiosity. I like seeing myself naked, but I can’t get off to myself. I’d rather rent a movie with someone else.
How did you meet your boyfriend, Chris Michaels?
I met Chris at a gay club in West Hollywood.
Was he in the business?
No.
Did he know who you were?
No, he didn’t find out until a week or two later.
And then you started dating?
We started dating heavily, then three weeks after that we moved in with each other.
When was that?
We’ve been together two and a half years.
When did he get into the porn industry?
About a year after we met. We’ve done about five movies together.
And how was that?
Very good. Very comfortable. We are very hot for each other, so there are no limp dicks. (Laughs)
Did you have any reservations about getting him involved?
I was in control. I already knew the whole business, so he wouldn’t do anything stupid. I prepared him for it. After a while, we decided we were only going to do scenes together—to protect ourselves against diseases.
So, you guys are monogamous?
In every way.
So, you wouldn’t work with anyone else?
That’s out of the question.
No threeways?
No, I don’t think that would work.
How do people in the industry react to that?
I am not desperate for money. We both have good jobs. We have a nice condo. I don’t really worry if people will hire me with him or not. It’s just extra money.
With barebacking films such a controversial topic in the business these days, I wonder whether you and Chris would ever consider doing a bareback scene.
I don’t like the idea of barebacking. I am against having unprotected sex, and I know we would never do it in front of the camera or off.
What do you guys do for work?
Chris has his own business, and I am a hairstylist. I work in a salon in Orange County, California. That is my main source of income. I think people can only see so many scenes of the same people, but I think people like me and they like him, and it’s hot seeing two lovers having great sex in front of the camera. I think the movies with him sell well.
What are your plans for the future?
I don’t know. Eventually, Matthew Anders will leave the building. (Laughs) Eventually, I will leave. It’s a natural progression. I think people have seen enough of me and my boyfriend, and you can only do so much. I want people to remember me the way I look now, not how I will look 10 years from now. I’m not interested in aging in front of the camera. I want them to keep that image.
And what is that image?
Down-to-earth, regular Joe. I’m not conceited. I don’t think much of myself. I am very critical of myself as well. It’s up to my friends and fans how they see me. I see myself as normal. I carry myself well, but other than that…
Do you enjoy touring and performing live?
I love going to different places and performing. It’s a bigger high than doing movies. The fans know all the movies and what I did in each. People are very generous and nice.
What has been your experience with fans?
They love me. (Laughs) And they put me on a pedestal, but I must tell you, once you get off that stage, you’re on the same level as everyone else. And that’s fine with me.

Previously unpublished (1999)