EDGE Interview: Trevor Brooks is in the Right Headspace for Doing Adult Movies

Trevor Brooks admits that he has to be in the right headspace to make adult films, but even then, it can be a test. "Balancing my personal life, especially my recovery, with my work can sometimes be a challenge, but it's something I've learned to manage over time."

The 28-year-old blue-eyed Adonis from Los Angeles has become one of the industry's most recognized stars. The City of Angels has been good to him and his career. He says its incessant energy keeps him motivated and inspired.

"It's home, and it's given me everything I needed to grow in this field," he says in an interview with EDGE.

However, Brooks didn't start out doing adult films. Before his star-turn, he worked helping others overcome addiction at a local rehab center. It was a job that was meaningful to him, especially since he is in recovery himself.

"That experience really shaped me and gave me a strong sense of empathy," he says, "which I carry with me in all areas of my life."

Our interview was done via email, but even within the limitations of that correspondence you can tell Brooks is an intelligent critical thinker and uses those qualities in the business known for its unconventional content.

A lot of times adult movie actors enter the business as a result of self-discovery. They examine everything about themselves, including their character flaws, and eventually find the courage to live an authentic life. For years the adult industry has been unfairly labeled as a business that preys on its stars. While in some extreme cases that could be true, but most adult movie actors are genuinely embracing who they really are; beware the sex worker who hasn't fully examined their life.

"I've always been comfortable with my sexuality, and I wanted to express that on a larger platform," Brooks says. "Working at a rehab center was rewarding, but I felt the adult industry was a space where I could explore another side of myself. It's been an exciting journey, and working with all these major studios and performers has made it all the more rewarding."

The industry seemed to think so too. Last year Brooks was nominated for several GayVN awards including best newcomer. Although he didn't take home a trophy, he finds just being nominated a huge honor. It's validation for all the hard work that Brooks put into his onscreen career, and how fans are glad he's constantly making more. "I owe a lot of that success to the amazing people I've worked with at Men.com, CockyBoys, Falcon, and Next Door Studios."

Obviously, being relatively new in the adult entertainment space there are same things Brooks still has to learn. The industry can throw curve balls at you, and if you aren't prepared it can really mess with your performance. Just as contemporary move actors do exercises before a scene, adult actors have to do the same. It is still an industry where movie magic exists and to get the full experience a viewer has to suspend their disbelief which is often a job that falls on the actors. The physical preparation happens offscreen, but just before the camera rolls the spadework turns psychological.

"Mental preparation is key," says Brooks. "It's important to be in the right headspace to feel confident and comfortable on set. Balancing my personal life, especially my recovery, with my work can sometimes be a challenge, but it's something I've learned to manage over time."

It is a misconception that adult movie actors will do anything onscreen. Even though it's a paid gig and depending on one's kink and what niche they fall into, a lucid star knows their limits no matter how much money is offered. Brooks says everyone has boundaries, or at least they should, "For me, there are a few things I'm just not comfortable with. But I think it's important to respect yourself and your limits, no matter what the offer is."

Brooks wears that confidence on his sleeve, and so far, it hasn't been an obstacle. His experiences with filmmakers have been positive ones, some becoming his close friends which he says makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

As far as working with a dream co-star, he has many on his wishlist, although he doesn't give specifics because it's always changing. "There are always new guys coming in with amazing energy and chemistry, so it keeps things fresh and exciting."

Could all of that chemistry and affection lead to falling in love with a co-star?

"There's always a chance," says Brooks. "Especially when you're sharing intimate moments. But most of us in the industry understand how to keep work and personal life separate. It's important to maintain that boundary, especially when you're navigating both the industry and personal recovery."

Arriving in the business as recently as he has, Brooks starts at a time when it's a little more diverse than what it was even two years ago. There is probably nothing you can't find if you type in the right keywords. But even with all of its manifolds, there is always room for improvement in the industry.

"I'd love to see more representation of different races, body types, and sexual identities in major studios," says Brooks. "It's a step-by-step process, but I'm hopeful for more inclusivity in the future."

As for Brooks' future, it's filled with new contract work from Men.com and Falcon. But he is also doing something else away from the bright lights of a big budget studio. "I'm also working on a few personal projects with Onlyfans that i think my fans will really want to see!"