About
Kayden Kross (born September 15, 1985, in Sacramento, California) is an award‑winning performer, director, screenwriter, and entrepreneur in the adult‑entertainment space. After more than a decade in front of the camera, she has pivoted to filmmaking, helming high‑end features for Vixen Media Group and launching the critically acclaimed site Deeper in 2019, where she serves as writer‑director and creative lead. Her visually stylish stories have earned her a reputation for narrative‑driven erotica and a string of trophies—including Best Director (2025 AVN Awards), cementing her status as one of the industry’s most influential storytellers. She is also a member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame, recognition reserved for long‑term excellence in the field.
Before Fame
Raised by a single mother in the foothills between Sacramento and Placerville, Kayden describes her younger self as “the book nerd” who spent more time with novels than with nightlife. Money was tight, so at 18 she began dancing at Rick’s Showgirls in Rancho Cordova—initially to save a pony bound for slaughter, a rescue she managed to fund and keep for several months. While studying psychology and philosophy at California State University, Sacramento, an agent noticed her and introduced her to modeling for men’s magazines, which soon led to on‑camera work. Her first exclusive performing contract came with Vivid Entertainment in 2006, followed by a rapid rise to Penthouse Pet of the Month (September 2008) and an Adam & Eve contract the same year. A short stint as a free agent ended when Digital Playground signed her on New Year’s Day 2010, putting her in the lead of the blockbuster Body Heat—a role that grabbed multiple Best Actress awards.
Trivia
- Director first, performer second: Although she still makes occasional cameos, Kayden now focuses almost entirely on directing, writing, and editing her own projects, a shift that began in earnest with the launch of Deeper.
- Award magnet: In addition to her 2025 AVN Best Director win, she has picked up honors such as 2022 AVN Best Directing—Narrative Production, 2020 XCritic Best Director—Feature, and earlier accolades ranging from Hot d’Or Best American Starlet (2009) to multiple XBIZ trophies.
- Mainstream cameos: She popped up as Kristall in the Breaking Bad DVD short “Chicks ’n’ Guns,” guest‑starred on The League, and appeared in indie features like Blue Dream and the horror anthology Verotika.
- Written voice: Beyond film, Kayden pens columns for Complex and XBIZ, maintains a personal blog, and contributed a short story to Harper Perennial’s e‑book anthology Forty Stories.
- Industry advocate: She has spoken publicly against punitive California taxes on adult producers and joined televised debates on production‑safety legislation, emphasizing performer autonomy and creative freedom.
Family Life
Kayden has been in a long‑term relationship with French performer‑director Manuel Ferrara since 2012. The couple welcomed their daughter in January 2014 and split their time between directing sets and parenting duties. They openly discuss the practicalities of being partners who also collaborate professionally—agreeing that Manuel’s performing remains strictly business while Kayden exercises veto power over scene partners. Her wider family ties are less public: Kayden has said she is estranged from her father and was largely raised, alongside a younger sister, by her mother. Outside work she is an avid reader, animal lover, and occasional equestrian—passions that hark back to the rescued pony that started her journey.
Associated With
- Manuel Ferrara – life partner, frequent collaborator, and the most consistent male performer in her films.
- Greg Lansky & Vixen Media Group – industry executive who brought her on to create Deeper, expanding Vixen’s premium storytelling brand.
- Kirsten Price & Dave Attell – co‑hosts with Kayden for the live 2010 AVN Awards broadcast, highlighting her crossover charisma.
- Angela White, Tori Black, Marcus Dupree – award‑winning performers Kayden has directed in high‑profile Deeper features.
- Jesse Jane & Jessica Drake – fellow contract stars alongside whom she presented and promoted in various adult‑industry events.
