HOLLYWOODâAnna Claire Clouds hurried out of the Sound Nightclub in Hollywood just before midnight Wednesday, hopped into an Uber, and headed home to sleep. No afterparties for the A-list talent from Tennessee.
âIâve got a shoot tomorrow,â she said.
How fitting.
For the past year, few performersâif anyâhave been as dedicated to their craft as Claire Clouds. Anal scenes, orgies, threesomes, girl-girl trysts, and even Hollywood-level acting ⊠the 29-year-old Spiegler girl has checked all the boxes en route to becoming one of the elite talents in all of porn.
Her efforts paid off Wednesday when XBIZ honored Claire Clouds with 11 XMA Award nominations, the most of any performer. Chanel Camryn scored nine nominations, while Lilly Bell and Nicole Doshi each garnered eight during a festive ârevealâ party at Sound Nightclub.
âThis was way more than I expected,â Claire Clouds said in a text to PornCrush early Thursday morning. âIâm so proud of every single nomination. I couldnât be more grateful for the recognition from XBIZ. I appreciate every single company and performer that gave me an opportunity to work with them.â
Along with being named as a finalist for Female Performer of the Year, Claire Cloudsâ nominations included nods for Best Sex Scene-Feature Movie, Best Girl-Girl Sex Scene, and Best Supporting Actress.
But perhaps the most gratifying recognition was for her work in âAnna-Claire Clouds: Darkside,â the scorching showcase released in September by Jules Jordan. Claire Cloudsâ double penetration sceneâthe first of her careerâwas nominated along with a 10-man gangbang that left fans and critics abuzz.
Speaking of causing a stir, Camrynâs nine nominations were achieved just one year after an impressive rookie campaign that culminated with a Best New Starlet trophy from AVN. Along with being one of pornâs top all-around performers, Camryn is also one of the most prolific, having surpassed the 300-scene mark less than three years into her career.
Camryn joins Claire Clouds on the Female Performer of the Year nominee list and is also a finalist for Best Girl-Girl Performer and Best Leading Actress; a trifecta matched only by Bell, who has long been recognized as one of the most versatile performers in porn.
Bell enhanced her resume even further in 2024 when she shot her first anal scene with Mick Blue for Brazzers. âAnal Ballerinaâ earned Bell a nomination for Best Sex Scene - Career First.
âIt was a lot of work,â Bell told PornCrush Thursday. âI prepped for about two weeks and got advice from so many different girls. I built it up so much in my head, but once it happened, I was surprised at how easy it was. I was like, âOh, I liked that. Letâs do it again.ââ
Bell was also proud that her performance in Erika Lustâs âLast Splashâ earned her a nomination for Best ActingâLead.
âI practiced the dialogue quite a bit, and once we started shooting, I just felt it,â Bell said. âThere are certain times when you deliver the dialogue, and it just flows. You feel it, and everyone in the room feels it. This was one of those times.â
Queenie Sateen, Cherry Kiss, Kira Noir, and Jennifer White also left Sound with their heads held high after receiving seven nominations each. Angela White, who was not in attendance, also received seven nominations. Willow Ryder and Vanna Bardotâthe reigning Female Performer of the Yearâeach tallied six.
Brittney Kade received the most recognition of any trans performer, with four separate scene nominations and a spot among the Trans Performer of the Year finalists.
The XMAs will be presented during a ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium on Jan. 19.