Katja Kassin

Before every performer had a subscription page, a podcast and a carefully curated personal brand, Katja Kassin was already making a name for herself in the gloriously unfiltered DVD era. The German star arrived when gonzo was king, scripts were optional and film titles had all the subtlety of a stag party in Benidorm. Katja fitted the moment perfectly: instantly recognisable, prolific and utterly at home in specialist productions.

Her 2006 XRCO recognition in the anal category was a stamp of approval from an industry that had no shortage of competition. Katja is a reminder that adult-film history didn’t begin with viral clips and social-media algorithms. Some of its biggest characters built their reputations one unapologetically niche release at a time. Take a look through AnalVids for the category, and follow the older studio catalogues if you fancy a trip back to the wild west of DVD-era porn.