Since 2006, hunky Tyler Saint has graced many of our screens, and enriched our lives (or at least our libidos) in the process.
But for all that we’ve seen him in, ever more creative permutations of partners, positions, and penetrations, the man himself remains quite private, and even, by his own admission, "painfully shy." You might be pleased to know, then, that the Tyler Saint I spoke with recently was a warm, genuine soul, and that there’s a simple reason why he has kept his head down while others in the industry tweet and instagram up a storm: he’s on the job.
Our conversation started a little slowly as we warmed up to one another. My first false start was when I asked about whether, like many other models, there’s overlap between his professional and his personal life. He obliterated any ambiguity. "No. There’s no overlap at all."
"I got into the industry at 40 years old," he told me. "People would ask me over and over and over if I’d consider it, and I finally said yes." Prior to jumping into the adult industry, Saint paid his bills by running his own business with its two employees – something that he continues to do today, despite the demands on his time from shooting and making personal appearances. It’s not without its strains, of course. "My schedule is packed. I’m lucky if I get to the gym twice a week." I wondered if that might contribute to a lack of a social media presence. "Hah! Yeah, the last thing I want to do is spend an hour on Twitter every day."
He’s certainly not hurting for current projects, presently filming for several websites, as opposed to major studio productions. "I’ve actually been busier in the last two years than I was when I was shooting regularly."
I asked him a little bit about how he maintains his impressively-muscled physique, given that woeful lack of gym time. For Saint, it’s all about maintenance and self-discipline. "Well, I don’t drink; just a lot of clean living, and portion control. I think most people eat basically healthy, but they eat too much."
"I’ve had this body for the last 25 years," he said. "The face has changed a little, but the body hasn’t changed in 25 years." This is great news for a man still in the first decade of his modelling career. I certainly can’t speak for everyone, but I would be surprised beyond belief if there weren’t a ton of men aching to see a mainstream star with a little bit of silver at the temples.
We may have established a bit of a rapport, but I was still able to put my foot wrong with the no-nonsense Saint. Angling for, perhaps, a bit of juicy on-set gossip, I asked after his favourite type of performer to work with, and got a characteristically forthright answer. "I never answer that question. I don’t want to elevate anybody over anybody else. What makes one person better than the other? We’re all there to do a job."
It’s a pragmatic, no-nonsense attitude that infuses all aspects of his work in the industry. Talking about the number of GayVN awards Saint has won (and it’s four, with another ten nominations), I had to ask how someone can maintain a career like his while being, as he describes himself, painfully shy. "I was pretty nervous when I first started shooting, but I got used to it." Simple as that. As to whether he still grappled with his shyness in his recent shoots, he was just as quick to give the professional answer. "I’ve done so many things in my career that I’m not even bothered by it any more. There’s only ever two or three people on set at once." And while he certainly appreciates that people enjoy his work, that pragmatic attitude extends to the awards, as well. "I don’t even go to the awards shows. They don’t make me any extra money."
"I actually used to do a lot of personal appearances. This will be the first one in a while." Referring, of course, to his September 14th visit to Evolution Wonder Lounge. "I love them because I get a chance to meet the fans. It’s always nice to hear supportive words in person." For Tyler, in-person trumps online interaction any day, especially since he has found that old truism of internet anonymity to be very real, in his case. "People on the internet can be very forward. They have very little, very little in the way of boundaries." Harkening back to his very clear delineation between his work and his personal life, he went on to say, "I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that I’m doing a job. Tyler Saint is a character I play."
And he plays it well, from all appearances. In an entertainment environment dominated by constant online dialogue and instant, real-time broadcasts from the people whose careers we follow, Tyler Saint may have managed a feat so elusive that there are few who even attempt it. As much effort as he pours into his performances on stage or in front of the camera, he manages to leave the work at work. There might be a lesson in there.
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Topic Adult Interview | Evolution Wonder Lounge | Most Read Articles in 2015 | Most Read Articles in 2016 | Most Read Articles in 2018 |
