Kayden Kross, born Kimberly Nicole Rathkamp on September 15, 1985, in Sacramento, California, is an acclaimed American pornographic actress, director, and writer. Raised in a strict religious household by a single mother after her father left, she was a bookish 'nerd' in high school, later studying psychology and philosophy at California State University, Sacramento. At 18, she began stripping at Rick's Showgirls in Rancho Cordova to support herself, saving enough to buy a pony. Transitioning to adult films, she debuted with Vivid Entertainment, then signed exclusive contracts with Adam & Eve and Digital Playground in 2010, starring in hits like 'The Smiths' and 'Body Heat.' Named Penthouse Pet of the Month (September 2008), she hosted AVN Awards (2010) and XBIZ (2012). Inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame (2019) and XRCO Hall of Fame (2022), Kross excels in directing for Vixen Media Group's Deeper, winning XBIZ Director of the Year (2022). Married to Manuel Ferrara since 2013, they have a daughter born in 2014. She writes columns for Complex and XBIZ.