Horror, Sleaze and Trash.

Vanessa de Largie

by Arthur Graham on November 30, 2017

Vanessa de Largie is an Australian artist who divides her time between London and Melbourne. She’s an award-winning actress and author. She’s also a prolific sex-columnist, journalist and blogger. Vanessa’s work primarily focuses on fierce female sexuality and issues that affect women.

Since February 2017, Vanessa has been the monthly sex-columnist for Maxim Magazine’s print issue. 

She recently returned to Melbourne after training at The London Actors  Centre  for 6 months.  

Full bio, articles, gallery and more at www.vanessadelargie.net

Photo credit: Nicola Cocco

HST: Vanessa de Largie — poet, model, journalist, actress… You’ve worn (and continue to wear) many hats over the course of your career, but if you could identify one unifying theme in your broad body of work, what would you say it’s been tying things all together?

VdL: The one unifying theme? To be free… One feels enslaved in this ‘politically correct’ world. In my work, I attempt to free myself from societal repression and oppression. I’m trying to loosen the chains. For me, creativity is a way of coping. It’s a rebellion against the system.

HST: For all the good intentions of PC culture and the problems it seeks to address, the pendulum really does seem to have swung, infringing on freedom of speech and expression to an often absurd degree. Can you give us an example of how this has personally affected you?

VdL: As a journalist particularly, unless you stick to the ‘PC narrative’ that the media pushes — you’ll be silenced.  And I know this because I’ve experienced it firsthand.  Many of the columns I write each week, don’t see the light of day — because I can’t sell them anywhere.  

It’s scary to contemplate how much power a small handful of newspaper editors have.  And they don’t suffer, they’re on a salary.  It’s the freelance journo who suffers because it affects their livelihood.  I wrote a controversial column last year which I speak about below.   It resulted in three editors from three major media publications to stop publishing my work.  

I make $300 a column.  So let’s say on average, I sold ONE column to each of those THREE editors a month.  Hypothetically they’ve reduced my monthly earning capacity as a journalist by $900.  That’s a lot of money for an artist!

But what would be worse?  Toning down my voice or twisting my beliefs in order to sell columns.  I’m an authentic person.  I may be poor (haha).  But I write my truth.

HST: Working as a woman and a sex-positive feminist in the public eye, what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face?

VdL: Ironically, it’s my own gender that cause me the most grief. My brand of ‘fierce’ female sexuality doesn’t sit well with many women — it makes them feel uncomfortable. But causing discomfort is positive. It suggests that you are stirring something within them and challenging their beliefs.

The biggest challenges I’ve faced in the public eye? In October 2016, I wrote a controversial column about Kim Kardashian which landed me in hot soup. I found myself splashed across the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan Magazine and The Guardian. For three months I was trolled and cyber-bullied by packs of women who identified as feminists. The hypocrisy!

To say that experience was ‘full on’ would be the understatement of the century. That bumpy journey coupled with the excessive man-hating that exists in society has forced me to detach from the ‘feminist’ movement. I feel at peace with my decision.