Grabbys Spotlight: Paul Wagner
Targeting trophies in the adult industry awards.
As we count down towards this year's Grabby Awards, we caught up with Paul Wagner - nominated in the Best Actor category.
How does it feel to be nominated in the Best Actor category for the Grabby Awards?
It’s the first year I’ve been nominated in the Best Actor category at the Grabbys, so I’m genuinely thrilled. Honestly, there was a time I never thought I’d see the day.
I put a lot of myself into Wild Game, and working with Ben Rush and everyone else involved was such a positive experience from start to finish. I’m incredibly thankful to have that work recognised by the industry in this way. It’s also been great to see the film get multiple nods.
The longevity of your career in the adult entertainment industry is notable - what keeps you motivated and engaged in this work?
It is kind of wild to look back on the timeline!
I think the key for me has been maintaining a healthy separation between my work and my personal life.
What helps keep me engaged is choosing projects that interest me and collaborating with directors and studios I genuinely respect, like Ben Rush.
Outside of my few studio projects a year, spending time on my OnlyFans page helps keep me motivated. Being able to have direct interactions with fans reminds me of the amazing support I have out there. It makes working in this industry feel a lot more personal and rewarding.
One of your co-stars in Wild Game - Miles Fallon - is up for Best Newcomer. Do you find yourself taking a bit of a mentor role with newer performers that you’re working with?
Mentor might be a strong word. Honestly, I’m never quite sure if the newcomers even know who I am!
I’m always open to chatting about the business and how I’ve navigated things, but everyone’s path is going to be unique in this industry. What worked for me ten to fifteen years ago might not work for someone starting today.
If anyone asks for my take, I just tell them to trust their gut and never let themselves be forced into a situation they aren't comfortable with. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle or taken advantage of if you aren't careful, so looking out for your own interests should always be priority number one.
There’s no magic formula, it’s all about trial, error, and finding what works for you.
You’ve talked about some of the challenges of dating - the pros and cons of dating guys who work in the industry and those that don’t. How is your work currently shaping your experience of intimacy?
Dating is still a journey that I’m navigating, probably quite unsuccessfully.
If anything, my work has made me much more intentional about intimacy in my private life. Having had so much casual sex, I find myself preferring a real connection over just a hookup. I still have the occasional hookup, of course, but my preference has shifted toward sex with someone I connect with.
I’ve done a lot of work on myself since I’ve started in this business, and while I’m open to sharing my life with someone, I’m also perfectly content being alone.
One thing is for certain, I don’t believe in compromising your core self for a relationship. You have to love the reality of a person, not your fantasy of their potential.
My career is a huge part of my life and it’s an absolute non-negotiable. I’m the only one who gets to decide when I’m done with this industry.
At the end of the day, whether I'm in a relationship or not, I am the one responsible for my own livelihood. Jeopardising that for someone else's expectations would be foolish.
Beyond the Grabby Awards, what is on your vision-board for the months ahead?
I’m just going to be trying to keep the momentum going.
I’m planning on heading back to work with Ben Rush this summer, and I’m putting a lot of energy into my OnlyFans - connecting with fans and setting up new collaborations.
I also have a lot of travel coming up.
I’m just going to continue staying focused on the work and enjoying where life takes me.
Gareth Johnson