'From porn to Parliament': Woman adult film-maker to be election candidate (surprise, surprise, she's a Lib Dem)

By David Wilkes

Last updated at 8:42 AM on 12th March 2010

Change of direction: LibDem candidate Anna Arrowsmith

Change of direction: Lib Dem candidate Anna Arrowsmith

So far, she has been a staunch advocate of all things blue.

The first woman in Britain to direct adult films revealed yesterday, however, that her political colours are of a different hue.

Anna Arrowsmith, hailed in some quarters as a champion of 'female-friendly porn', has been chosen as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the General Election.

Explaining why she wanted to be an MP, the 38-year-old - whose films include Where's The Rent Boys? (sic) - said she was 'disgusted' by the MPs' expenses scandal and believes women are under-represented in Parliament.

Mrs Arrowsmith, who is fighting Tory Adam Holloway's seat of Gravesham in Kent, said: 'I am not a professional politician, I have worked all my life to set up a successful business and I want to fight for the rights of people in Gravesham.'

A quick glance through the titles of her 300 or so films may suggest she has used them to address some of the major challenges facing Britain today.

Hug A Hoodie, for example, could pass as a David Cameron sound bite about disaffected youths.

And another - its title unsuitable for a family newspaper - tackles the frustrations of buxom matrons in the NHS.

Mrs Arrowsmith, who works in porn under the pseudonym Anna Span, is managing director of adult film company Easy on the Eye.

She began shooting porn films after graduating from Central St Martins School of Art with a degree in Fine Art (Film & Video) in 1998.

Named best director in the 2008 and 2009 UK Adult Film and Television Awards, she says she became involved in porn to make it more accessible to women. She has also written a book for couples about how to make porn at home.

Enlarge   Anna Arrowsmith

Arrowsmith as porn director Anna Span, with two of her star actors Steve Hooper and Nicoletta Blue on the set of one of her films

Enlarge   Anna Arrowsmith

New direction: Arrowsmith in 2004 with two more of her actors, 'Poppy' and Tony di Sergio

'I would say to the people of Gravesham, don't judge me by the industry as a whole,' she said.

'I have gone into the porn industry with a view to changing it and making it more female friendly.

'In this day and age, people who live in a democratic society should be able to choose what they want to watch.

'I have spent years campaigning for equal opportunities for female workers and this has given me an excellent experience for the coming campaign.'

Enlarge   Anna Arrowsmith
Enlarge   Anna Arrowsmith directs films under the pseudonym Anna Span

Political ambition: Arrowsmith decided to stand after the MPs' expenses row. Right, she directed Hoxton Honey under the guise of 'Anna Span'

Mrs Arrowsmith, who lives with husband Tim in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, added: 'I remember as a seven-year- old watching Margaret Thatcher campaigning and being desperate for her to win - not because she was Conservative, my family being Labour, but because she would be the first female prime minister.

'I don't know where that strong sense of fight for female equality came from but it was there even then.'

A Liberal Democrat spokesman insisted: 'Anna will be a strong candidate for Gravesham and, with her family links to the area, we believe she is the best person to bring fairness to local people.'

 

Comments (112)

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Another prospective candidate who states quite clearly that she champions womens rights only,yet I bet that it is men she sells her porn to and gets a living from.Who's stupid?

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What is going on with the Lib Dems? In our area we have a writer, who has gone unpublished, standing for a LibDem Parliamentary position, who is so well known i can't recall his name. Anyway i digress, i asked said candidate what are his local policies, and he replied "i am going to bring down the BNP candidate and expose them for what they are". OK, i thought he misheard me, so i asked the question again, emphacising LOCAL issues. Reply, nothing of any sense, no local knowledge or idea of our problems. I want a candidate who will explain how they will bring in development, job creation, sustainability, values and honesty. Not political spin to secure a well paid job from the public purse. You have lost my vote Nic, i will look elsewhere.

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Well I wish her every success if only for the slim possiblity that she becomes chancellor of the exchequer so that we can make jokes about "the money shot".

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I agree totally with Lee from London and I don't know why all you idiots have red arrowed him he has a valid point, must be a load of sexual perverts on here. Although she will only get the vote from freaks , What a role model, promoting her seedy and warped views we have had enough of those from Liebour, how could the local people take her seriously I don't think they will. There is a lot of good women out there who don't get the chance to make a difference and the reason being is when women do get in powerful positions they are a laughing stock, Jacki porn face, harriet I know nothing, the women who has a top job in Europe and is a joke, I think there should be more good women in powerful positions but you can see why not when the women that are. I noticed on the last photo she has changed her look is this to con more votes because she looks normal, POT, KETTLE, BLACK, comes to mind, Her industry destroys innocent women who look for acting jobs then end up in porn, drugs, street sex.

Click to rate     Rating   40

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well this puts a different slant to the governmental expression "screwing the taxpayer".

Click to rate     Rating   21

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She's done nothing wrong. I'd rather she was in the newly respectable adult entertainment business than many other occupations. If I agreed with Lib Dem policies I'd happily vote for her.

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so what???? Honestly, you DM journalists/readers are such prudes. The woman earns a good living doing an intersting job, she pays her taxes and you are having a go at her???? ps. being liberal is a GOOD THING. Being a right wing xenophobe - like the bilk of your readership, IS NOT.

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I am not sure if the good voters of Gravesham will feel as relaxed about it as Nick Clegg 'seems' to be. It will be an interesting result to watch out for. It ensures she gets plenty of publicity anyway!! (Which is probably the main reason for this stunt)

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In fairness this is better than the Tory sex scandals with prostitutes , married women and toy boys.

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She is open and honest about what she does. Harms no one that I can see and would probably make a god MP. We need the LibDems to keep some sanity in our politics.. and move us to a fairer more democratic voting system/. They certainly get my vote.,

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