Nina Hartley, born Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959, in Berkeley, California, is an American pornographic film actress, director, producer, and sex educator. The youngest of four children in a progressive family with a Lutheran father and Jewish mother who later converted to Buddhism, she grew up influenced by civil rights activism. A feminist from her teens, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing magna cum laude from San Francisco State University in 1985 and worked briefly as a registered nurse.
Hartley entered the adult industry in 1984 with 'Educating Nina.' By 2017, she had appeared in over 1,000 films, directed 'Nina Hartley's Book of Love' (1992), and created sex education videos. An outspoken advocate for sexual freedom, she lectured at universities like Harvard and served on the Free Speech Coalition board.
Awards include AVN Best Actress (1987), Hall of Fame induction, and XRCO Female Performer of the Year (1989). Married to Ira Levine since 2003, they live polyamorously in Los Angeles; she remains active.