By Peter Berton

TAMPA, Fla. – Richelle Ryan has a winning smile, a superb body and full breasts. She’s been shot by the likes of Naughty America, Evil Angel, Bang Bros, Wicked Pictures, Vivid, Elegant Angel, New Sensations, Hustler, and Adam & Eve. She’s also an award-winning exotic dancer, with titles including the 2013 Adult Movie Feature Entertainer of the Year crown from Exotic Dancer Awards and a silver medal from the 2011 Penthouse Golden G-Strings Awards.

Some adult starlets snag lucrative feature dancing gigs as a result of their on-screen success. Ryan approached the industry from the other direction. YNOT.com spoke with her about her efforts in both fields.

YNOT: You’ve said your career started almost as a lark. Explain that?

Richelle Ryan: A friend of mine was a dancer and was telling me how much money she made doing it, and that it was a lot of fun and I had the look. So she gave me a costume and took me to the club she worked at, and I started that night.

Many strippers quit the life for mainstream work, but your experience motivated you to go further and get into adult video. Why?

I started off as a dancer, and I knew that I would grow and could do so much more. I was 18 when I started, so I was ripe and ready to go.

What was your first on-camera scene?

My first scene was for SeeHerSquirt.com with Joey Ray. It was shot on my 21st birthday. I was so excited to be on camera shooting my first porn scene, I couldn’t keep my hands off of him.

What kinds of scenes do you like best?

I love shooting girl-girl scenes, because I love being with women. But my favorite kind of scene is a boy-girl-girl scene so I can have the best of both worlds.

We hear you’re a sports fanatic.

Yes! I’m a huge NFL football fan. I love the NY Giants. I go to as many games during the season as possible and follow all the games, stats and player stats. I’m kind of obsessed.

You also take personal fitness very seriously, correct?

I definitely do. Staying in top shape and having your body look good on stage and camera is a big deal. Nobody wants to see a fatty wiggling all over. Gotta keep the body tight.
I love to work up a good sweat. I do cross-fit and Bikram Yoga and anything else that gets my heart rate going.

What have been the high points of your career so far?

Winning Adult Movie Entertainer at the Exotic Dancer Awards in Vegas this August was huge for me. I’m so passionate about my feature dancing career, and to be recognized with the highest award a dancer can receive is such an honor.

In a perfect world, what kind of scene would you like to do, and with whom?

Johnny Depp dressed as a pirate, and he could do whatever he wanted to me.

What is the silliest scene you’ve ever done?

I did a solo scene for this website in Canada called InTheCrack.com. They wanted me to use fruit and vegetables as toys. It was very odd.

What are your future goals?

To continue shooting lots of hot scenes for my fans and keep rocking it out in strip clubs all over the country.

What do few people know about you?

I’m a very quiet, normal girl. When I’m home, I’m all about working out, yoga, hanging out with my friends and enjoying life.