At first glance it’s easy to label Brent Corrigan as a just another hot, twinky gay porn star but if you take a closer look you’ll see an experienced veteran of the industry who at just 23 years old is an entrepreneur, a budding young actor and a man wise beyond his years.

Take a look at the many faces of Brent Corrigan.

From the age of 17, Brent has appeared in dozens of porn films with titles such as The Porne Ultimatum, The Big Easy and Just The Sex but in that time he has also started three production companies and scored minor roles in mainstream films such as Milk and Another Gay Sequel. He has had his share of controversy, with a number of lawsuits over several underage films he made with Cobra Video now behind him, and in 2009 Brent testified at the highly publicised murder trial of Bryan Kocis, the owner of Cobra Video.

And after seven years, Brent has just about seen and done it all but he says he still finds ways of making the work interesting for him. “It’s a place in the world for me, just as you have your place in the world,” he says. “I seldom take projects with other studios, people who are familiar with me are often surprised at just how little filming I do [and] that has been a big factor in keeping me not only whole and sane, but interested in general.”

Brent says his shift to producing as well as modeling has kept the blood pumping. “What stimulates me most is directing and creating things. I still model, but I am always directing and shot-calling on my sets,” he says. “If I couldn’t direct my own work or project, I would probably have little more use for the adult industry.”

Now onto his third company, Brent’s latest business was born out of what he saw as a “need to produce something of worth without damaging or exploiting young people,” adding that he sees the company’s role as “providing a safe environment they can meet others like themselves, as well as be uninhibited without feeling ashamed or anxious.”

So what advice would Brent give anyone who wants to launch their own porn career? “Figure out what you want out of the adult industry. You can’t just leap into it and expect people to love you for it. Today, you can make yourself the star you want to be by simply creating a YouTube page and being creative. Get a blog, write about what is going through your head. Reveal more than just your body. Most of all, never, ever ever film unsafe work. If you want to be a real adult star, you don’t have to compromise your health to achieve it.”

Despite appearances in bareback videos earlier in his career, Brent now encourages and promotes safe sex in all his videos and believes porn plays an important role in safe-sex education. “I had little to no understanding of the risk I was personally taking, but those who might watch it and emulate my behaviour,” he says. “I’m not familiar with what sex education is like out there in Australia, but it varies from bad to worse in most regions here in the US. Many kids get curious when they come of age, and of course the internet is there to whet their appetite. I never set out to be a role model, but taking into account the work I do as an adult, I recognise that many young people are well aware of my work and what I do.”

Brent is eager to admit that porn is not his life, “I love sex and I’m great at it [but] it’s one very small part of my being. It’s a very empty world for someone who makes sex the sum of their parts,” he says. And this shows with Brent having a number of minor roles in films such as Milk, Another Gay Sequel, and Big Gay Musical but Brent says he is being realistic about his acting career. “I’m not grooming myself to become the next big Disney star. I am completely satisfied and at home working in queer media.”

Within the queer media world, Brent is keen to work with John Cameron Mitchell, and cites Shortbus and Hedwig & the Angry Inch as two of his favourite films. “There is just something about drag queens and transgendered souls that utterly fascinates me,” he says, hinting at his own future film plans. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, one day I’d like to make a film about some of my experiences based on the book I am writing. I have always envisioned Susan Sarandon playing my mother!”

Brent is a fervent supporter for the overturning of the Proposition 8 laws banning same-sex marriage in California but he isn’t looking to tie the knot just yet. “Me? Getting married? I’m 23! I don’t think any one is prepared to make a life commitment at such an age. Yet, that hasn’t stopped me from securing the right not only for myself in the future when I am ready, but for those who are ready to make it part of their lives now.”

Brent is heading to Australia later this month, appearing at Mardi Bar and Queer Thinking as part of the Mardi Gras festival, but he admits he has no idea what he is in for. “I hear it’s crazy and that I’ll never live it down. I’m just looking forward to seeing some crazy things. I could use a new mental scar.”

Brent Corrigan hosts the Same Same Mardi Bar on Wednesday Feb 24 and Thursday Feb 25 at Nevermind, 163 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. He also participates in Mardi Gras’ Queer Thinking forum on Friday Feb 26 at the Seymour Centre.