Penny Barber – The MILF Performer of the Year Interview

Penny Barber has been forging her own path in the adult industry since 2003. After making a name for herself as one of the kinkiest women in porn, she’s now one of the most sought-after MILFs around. With a beautiful face, enviable body, and undeniable mommy goddess vibes, Penny is taking mainstream porn by storm. After winning both the AVN and XRCO Awards for MILF Performer of the Year, Ms. Barber is on top of the world. In this sexy interview, Penny discussed her passion for porn and film, her new Elegant Angel scenes, and her lovefor her fellow MILFs.

Introduce yourself! Who is Penny Barber?

Oh god. Well, I’m an adult actress, cinephile, and filmmaker. My home is in San Francisco, but I have an unfurnished little pied-à-terre in Los Angeles, which is actually where I spend most of my time. While I love genre films in general, my favorites are probably Pinku Eiga, Giallo, and slow-burn character studies. My favorite camera is the Canon C500 Mark II – I’m about to get a second one. I got to hold an Arri Alexa once, but I’ve never actually shot on one. Favorite directors are Jane Schoenbrun and Panos Cosmatos. Favorite DP is Pawel Pogorzelski, but I’ll always have a soft spot for Barry Sonnenfeld.

Congratulations on winning both the AVN and XRCO MILF POTY Awards! How did it feel when you heard your name called?

Thank you! At the AVNs I was lucky enough to be sitting next to the amazingly gorgeous and supremely talented (and possibly feral) Little Puck, who asked if I was nervous. I said no, because I definitely wasn’t going to win and then they called my name! It was disappointing that I didn’t get to go up on stage and don’t have any pictures from what is arguably the biggest moment of my career, but damn does that statue look good in my house!

My win at XRCO was a surprise win as well. I was just wandering around Bar Sinister talking to people when suddenly there was this oneiric twist with everyone yelling, “Penny! Penny! You won! Go up on stage!” So I did.

I’ve been in the industry for so long and, while I’ve always had a loyal and actionable fanbase, I’m only now getting recognition from my peers. I can see what I did wrong earlier in my career, but it is fulfilling to have had such a long arc, to have built myself into the industry slowly and not burned out or faded away like so many actors do. Porn is my passion; I eat, breathe, and sleep it; so it feels amazing to be told that I’m good at it!

The MILF POTY competition is always really tough. What do you think made you stand out from the crowd and nab the crown this year?

At this level, everyone kind of deserves the title: Ryan Keely, Reagan Fox, Shay Sights, Jessica Ryan, Maitland Ward, Armani Black, Sophia Locke, Alexis Fawx, Cherie DeVille, Lauren Phillips – how do you choose the superlative among superlatives? One of the committee members from AVN told me it was just my turn. I’m so excited to see who wins the 2025 MILF POTY awards and take a selfie with her!

You’ve been in the industry since 2003; what’s your proudest accomplishment?

Rather than any accolades or covers, I’m most proud of how I’ve augmented my skills as a filmmaker and my efforts in assembling a respectable gear kit and crew. My husband (photographer and editor Rex Shepherd) and I have put a lot of work into streamlining our production and establishing systems that allow us to create beautiful content in a short period of time. Our audio is second to none and I’m proud of our cinematography and storylines as well, although of course, you can always get better!

Most of your career was dominated (pun intended) by niche fetish scenes, and it’s only recently that you started to appear in more mainstream adult productions. Tell me a little bit about your journey to making that pivot.

I’m kinky. Like, really kinky and some of my kinks are kind of extreme and only appeal to a very niche market. At the beginning of my career I got some advice that I may have taken too seriously. A mentor told me to make content that I loved or everyone would be able to tell I was faking it. She probably meant that I shouldn’t do content unless I really loved it, but I took it to mean that I should only shoot the kind of, well, bizarre sex that gets me going in my personal life. Turns out that is not the best way to support your family. Now I accept any work that I will enjoy, which has exposed me to a lot of new markets, most of which are adjacent to or expressions of my kinks anyway. We are living in the age of MILF and taboo porn!

How have you evolved as a performer and as a person since you started your career?

I’ve become much more interested in production values and learning how I can improve mine. I read everything I can find on the subject. Some of my favorite books are The Screenwriter’s Bible, Make Your Own Damn Movie!, The Complete Film Production Handbook, Filmmakers and Financing, Horror Film Aesthetics, and The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines. I also recommend both the Master Shots and Filmmaker’s Eye series. Someone just recommended Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics and The Five C’s of Cinematography. They’re up on my wishlist at PamperPenny.com if anyone wants to help me get better!

Let’s talk about the reverse gangbang in MILF Performers of the Year 2024! What’s the secret to making a great group sex scene?

Getting an all-star cast, apparently! At this point in my career I’m mostly being booked with top shelf talent, people who love their jobs and are dedicated to giving amazing sexual performances. I had actually never met Zac Wild before! I can’t believe he handled four god-tier MILFs all on his own and lived to tell the tale!

That said, Zac wasn’t exactly in charge of the shoot. Usually in a scene, someone takes the lead, someone drives. This was chaos. It was sexual pandemonium with everyone just sort of doing whatever and whoever they wanted. There was lube everywhere. It was truly some of the best sex I’ve had in my life and I’m so abjectly grateful to everyone for all the slippery, MILFy orgasms!

Are there any memorable moments from set that stand out to you?

It was Shay Sights’s birthday! Reagan Fox had even gotten her the most gorgeous, pink and white cake. So besides being extra jubilant, we got a treat after we wrapped! My husband absolutely adores Reagan, so he came in and had a slice with us and got to meet Ryan Keely for the first time. (They actually just had a photoshoot together and the images are stunning!) It was one of those dreamy experiences I’ll remember forever.

In your on-set interview, you mention that you’ve always been interested in older women. What is it about MILFs that drives you wild?

Older women who take care of themselves are living treasures. The true MILF is the rarest, most pulchritudinous jewel; she’s refined, elegant, well-dressed, poised, and insatiable! She knows who she is, what she wants, and how to get it.

You also got to perform with fellow MILF nominee Sophia Locke in a lesbian scene. What was it like to finally get to work with someone you’d been crushing on for so long?

Sophia is so cool! She’s so genuine and seems to care about everyone around her. She’s carved out of wood – obviously. She and I could probably start a fire by tribbing.

Lastly, you’ll also appear in Lesbian Performers of the Year 2024 with Vanna Bardot! What can fans expect to see from that scene?

Oh man. Vanna. She’s so elegant, like a princess, but that young lady is filthy. I don’t always watch my scenes, but dear god am I gonna watch that one!

Now that you’ve reached this milestone in your career, what’s next for Penny Barber?

I’d love to write and direct! I mean, I already do, but I’d love to do it for a studio with a nice, fat, juicy budget.

What’s the best part about being a MILF?

My favorite thing about being a MILF is when younger male co-stars carry your bag to your car after a shoot. I really love that. Never used to happen to me before.

What makes you feel sexy?

My husband and I have been together for thirteen years and he still looks at me like he wants to tear off my clothes – then he does it! I also enjoy bondage, wearing latex, and catching appreciative glances when I’m at the gym.

Any final word for your fans?

Whatever you do: don’t subscribe to my OnlyFans.com/pamperedpenny and send me filthy messages. I might just send back something even more depraved and then you’re gonna come so hard you’ll travel through time. It may be safe to follow me on X @pamperedpenny or on TikTok @misspennybarber or on Instagram @penny.barber.truly but I ultimately can’t make any promises as to the integrity of the space-time continuum. Happy stroking!

Watch Penny Barber’s reverse gangbang from the upcoming MILF Performers of the Year 2024 here.

Read more interviews on the Elegant Angel blog here.