Festival season is kicking off once more, and Edmonton’s Pride week is right near the top of the docket. Organized by PURE Pride Entertainment, PURE Pride kickoff parties are fast becoming a fixture of western Canada’s major Pride festivals. Headlining this year’s Edmonton event are Jujubee, Nick Bertossi, and the stunning adult film actor Seth Knight, with whom I recently had a chance to speak.
If you like your pornstars lithe, strong, and smooth, the name is doubtless familiar. Knight’s career in porn started at a dead run with him being named Twink.com’s 2011 Twink of the Year just two months after his debut. Starting out light, I asked Knight about maintaining that physique. Does he have a specific workout routine, or is he a calorie-counter?
"No, I eat like a fatty," he laughed. "It’s hard for me to gain weight [and] I try to work out as much as possible."
Knight’s only prior visit to Canada was all business; a shoot in Montreal with Jake Bass and Gabriel Clark. Nice work if you can get it. As for Edmonton, and his encore performance in Saskatoon?
"I’m very excited for these two towns because I’ve never been. I’m very excited to meet fans, sign autographs, and I’m definitely excited for [The Starlight Room’s] V.I.P."
It’s safe to say that Edmonton is in for a treat. When I asked about his previous live performance experience, Knight very nearly demurred. While he has worked clubs in the past, this will be his first time in the limelight. "To be honest," he told me, "I’ve never done a live appearance in front of people, so this will be a new experience for me. I’m a little nervous." Do be gentle with the poor boy, gentlemen.
Not that the experience is likely to ruffle any of Knight’s feathers. True to his easygoing Texan upbringing, Knight appears well-armoured against the slings and arrows life launches his way. Chatting about his background, Knight told me that he "grew up in Wichita Falls, so it was a little difficult because it’s a lot of straight, redneck cowboys." As with many gay teens, his local rumour mill had essentially given him a de-facto outing before he came out himself. Ever unflappable, Knight embraced his identity and eventually won over a good portion of his hometown. "Eventually I just came out and started being me. Everyone started to love me, and wanted to hang with me. Now, when I visit, I get a warm welcome."
Out is activism enough for the young star, however. Pride events aren’t something that he seeks out specifically, and as for becoming an outspoken advocate? "Being in the public eye is enough for me. When you do porn, you’re in the public eye a lot." No argument with that last point, given that Knight has been featured in more than a dozen films in a little over two years. Those who’ve grown to love Knight’s work on film may be in for a disappointment, though, as it seems that Knight isn’t particularly keen to be a public figure on a long-term basis. For the foreseeable future, he’s transitioned away from film, and is only booking personal appearances like those coming up in Edmonton and Saskatoon. His real focus at this point in his life, he tells me, is starting his career outside of adult entertainment. While performing, the industrious Knight found time to complete his schooling as a cosmetologist and dental assistant - no word on when he’ll be taking clients.
Far from seeming disillusioned about his time in porn, Knight remembers several of his co-stars, and the experiences he had working with them, fondly. Among his favourites was Jake Genesis, who he liked enough to date seriously for a time. "Yes, sadly it didn’t work," Knight said, "but wish him the best." And if you’ve developed a taste for Seth’s exquisite figure, don’t despair. He certainly hasn’t ruled out the possibility of performing again, and would especially like to reprise his performances with Trenton Ducati and Gabriel Clark. He’s also on the lookout for opportunities to perform with Adam Killian, Tom Wolfe, and Austin Wolfe.
Wherever Knight’s future takes him, we certainly haven’t seen the last of this ambitious young Texan. For right now, you can see him at PURE Pride, where the party’s organizer, Dale Plourde, promises a show full of theatricality, suspense, and a soundtrack that can’t be - if you’ll forgive the phrasing - topped.