Supersex, a seven-episode look at the porn industry through the lens of real-life adult star Rocco Siffredi, is an attention-grabbing Netflix series marketed around its explicit content and no-holds-barred look behind the curtain of adult entertainment. Although based only loosely on Siffredi’s life, it does reflect crucial elements of his background and personal journey.
Rocco Siffredi is the subject of Supersex
The Netflix show is inspired by the real-life of European pornstar Rocco Siffredi, born Rocco Antonio Tano, and the part is played by Alessandro Borghi.
Rocco had a long and pioneering career, and starred in more than thirteen hundred films before retiring, probably from exhaustion, in 2004. However, you can’t keep a good porn star down, and Rocco would return to performing in 2009.
In the series, we see Rocco as a child growing up in the beautiful Italian town of Ortona. Rocco eventually found his way into the adult film industry and would have an upward trajectory (in more ways than one). He would use a stage name for his films, taking a cue from the 1970 gangster movie Borsalino, and became Rocco Siffredi after a character in that movie.
Supersex does remind us in each episode that it is “loosely” based on the real story of Rocco, so some creative license has been taken. In an interview with The Independent, the man himself would say, “When I saw the series, seven hours, all at once… it was pretty difficult. My mind was going so fast. So many memories. So much happiness but also much pain.”
Rocco would become renowned for his performances in various pornographic features, and his particular style would earn him a certain reputation. His performances would often involve rough sex, and his psychological intensity would help further his career and influence in the genre.
However, moving away from the industry, Rocco would also find style in other areas of life. He moved away from the industry in the 1980s, and would instead focus on a career in modeling. It was a short-lived flirtation with the fashion world, but it should be noted that Rocco would continue his relationship with the catwalk, appearing in 2023 and walking for Dsquared2 in Milan. Vogue France would reveal: “For the show, Dsquared2 the Italian house invited two stars to join the casting. Former porn star Rocco Siffredi wore a pair of unbuttoned jeans, a red logo T-shirt, and a suit jacket.”
Rocco Siffredi walking the catwalk for Dsquared2 in Milan | Image via Vogue France
Rocco was also one of a handful of porn stars that would manage to make the transition into more mainstream productions. He would appear in film and television, in roles not related to the adult industry, and also appear in documentaries, advertisements, and interviews.
Siffredi would meet and marry Rosa Caracciolo, a Hungarian model whom he met in Cannes. He would perform with his future wife in Tarzan X: Shame of Jane and they would go on to have two sons together. Rocco would struggle with a sex addiction, an affliction that his wife would understand and support. He would announce his final retirement in 2015 and stated the decision came about for the sake of his marriage. Siffredi is still in the spotlight today and appears on podcasts and interviews.
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