Below the Belt with Lukas Ridgeston

1^st time performing live in the world!

Live at Boardwalk Bar in Ft Lauderdale!

Gay men around the world were introduced to one of the most breathtakingly beautiful men in gay porn back in 1994 with the Bel Ami release of Tender Strangers and that young man is Lukas Ridgeston.  Discovered by a scout for Bel Ami in 1993 while he was lounging on the beach in his home country of Slovakia, Ridgeston was reluctant at first to pose nude for the camera.  Thankfully for all of us, this young man let go of his inhibitions and since then has captivated the hearts and groins of gay men around the globe.  Sure he has an amazing physique, an impressive endowment and his performances have become legendary.  But, it is his striking eyes that have set him apart from all the other porn stars.  His eyes have mesmerized thousands of us since we first saw him on film and it is his sultry and seductive eyes that have kept us coming (and cumming) back for more!   

In 2002 the readers of Unzipped magazine named Ridgeston the “Hottest Porn Star of All Time” and after a decade of pleasing his fans he was awarded a 2006 GAYVN award for Best Actor in a Foreign Release for his work in Lukas in Love 3.   He is now part of the production team at Bel Ami and is working behind the camera for BelAmiOnline.com and helping to launch the careers of more young Eastern European men as they discover and pursue their own sexuality in front of the camera as future porn stars.  In June 1999 he graduated from his university architecture program which demonstrates that he is not only gorgeous, but smart too! 

South Florida is in for a treat Thanksgiving week as Lukas graces the stage of Boardwalk Bar for his first live performance ever!  You heard that right, he has appeared at autograph signings and erotic festivals in Europe and the USA, but this marks his first live performance in the WORLD and we can thank FabScout Entertainment and Boardwalk Bar for making this happen!

Awards and recognition 1996 Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards (the "Grabbys") "Hot Shots" award with Cole Youngblood 1999 Ranked among the top 10 in Unzipped magazine's "Best Erotic Video Performers of the Millenium" 2000 GayVN Awards Hall of Fame inductee 2002 Unzipped magazine reader's poll named him "Hottest Porn Star of All Time" 2006 GayVN Awards "Best Actor in a Foreign Release" for Lukas in Love 3

 I had the opportunity to conduct the following exclusive interview with Lukas prior to his arrival in South Florida next week.   

Gio                  Lukas, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. 

Lukas            You’re welcome Gio. 

Gio                  I understand you were born and live in Slovakia, tell me about your country and what it is like living there. 

Lukas            Slovakia is nice country with a lot of traditions and friendly people.  Although it’s a post communistic country, Slovakia is a member of European Union now and living here is very similar to living in most other countries in the EU.  Cities are getting more and more cosmopolitan than before. 

Gio                 You come from a small village called Bratislava, tell the readers what young people do for fun in your town? 

Lukas            (big laugh :) Many people here think they are living in big city. Yes, my birth town is a small village in comparison with other big cities in the world. People here do similar things as in other countries in Europe. They go clubbing, go to bars, play sports, shop in shopping malls, watch films, TV, reality shows etc...  

Gio                  Out of all the career options you may have had as a young man, what made you decide to keep doing gay porn movies all these years? 

Lukas            It wasn’t a decision made on any singular day. It was a long process.  I was shooting while I was studying and then somehow I became a little famous. My plans were completely different back then.  While I was studying I started doing things behind the camera as well, editing and also learned how to shoot, and now here I am, working for Bel Ami . 

Gio                  What are you currently doing for work? 

Lukas            Like I said before, I started shooting and editing episodes for the internet. I’m working exclusively for Bel Ami, preparing content for the internet, especially with inexperienced guys. I teach them how to show their own sexuality in front of the camera and to show that they’re doing it with pleasure. I use my own experiences as an example for them. 

Gio                  That is great that you can take your experiences and help new guys entering the world of adult film.  Speaking of your on screen appearances, do you plan on making another porn film any time soon or doing more live appearances after your appearance in Florida? 

Lukas            I decided not to do any more films, but then nobody really knows the future (Big Smile).  I feel myself getting older and I think leaving while at the top of this business is the best option for me. As for doing live appearances…that depends on what’s offered. 

Gio                  Were you athletic as a young man?  If so, what type of sports did you play? 

Lukas            I wasn’t that athletic when I was young. I did judo when I was 15 and as a result I became more muscular.  I started working out as well because of that.  I still do many sports in my spare time.  I took up wakeboarding during last summer and in the winter I play ice hockey. 

Gio                  Very cool.  Let’s go back to 1993 for a moment.  Tell me how you got your start in the Adult Industry. 

Lukas            There was a long period from the moment when a model scout asked me while I was at a local beach if I would like to model for some photographs. He said I would make a couple of naked pictures and so I eventually agreed.  I was very shy back then and it took George Duroy a lot of time to convince me to start doing films. 

Gio                  How was your first experience going on a movie set and being filmed having sex? 

Lukas            I can say only that I had very mixed feelings about it. On one hand I was very shy, but on the other I was always very sexual and was excited about it. So I think the mixture of these two feelings resulted in it looking how it looks. 

Gio                  I assume that Lukas Ridgeston is not your real name, how did you get this porn name? 

Lukas            George Duroy invented my name and I like it.  Using my real name really hurts my privacy.  Many people still don’t understand that. 

Gio                  Do you identify as gay, straight or bi-sexual? 

Lukas            I always say I am sexual. 

Gio                  Good answer! How do you like working for George Duroy and the Bel Ami team? 

Lukas            We’re like a big family. George Duroy created Bel Ami and employs mostly from guys who used to be his models. I’m working mostly for our website www.belamionline.com  and we have a good team here.

Gio                  Out of all the films you have made for Bel Ami, which one stands out as your favorite? 

Lukas            I really like filming at exotic locations.  It’s always fun being away and you feel as if you’re not at work that way. So maybe the last one, Lukas in Love, which was filmed in South Africa, could be my favorite.

Gio                  Is there a particular scene that is most memorable for you? 

Lukas            The most memorable are the first couple of scenes I did. It was something new for me. The scenes with Johan in Lukas Story or with Sebastian Bonnet in Frisky Summer stand out in my memory. 

Gio                  One of my favorite things in porn is the bloopers, or the funny things that happen while filming.  What is the most embarrassing or funniest thing that has happened to you while shooting a scene? 

Lukas            When we did the episode with Sebastian Bonnet in Frisky Summer. It was in Portugal one night before filming.  We were in karaoke bar together having drinks and singing.  We sounded really funny singing karaoke, and the next day while shooting, I grabbed Sebastian’s dick and did something like singing into a microphone with it. We didn’t stop laughing for half an hour. 

Gio                  That is funny! I understand that your performances at Boardwalk Bar in Fort Lauderdale will be your first live performances in the United States.  Why has it taken so long for you to come to the USA and perform live for your fans?

Lukas            You know I’m really busy preparing content for internet, shooting, editing etc. so I just did not have the time.  But, I am glad to finally be coming to do this. 

Gio                  I understand that Howard from FabScout Entertainment is responsible for getting you booked for the appearances in the USA.  How did you come to know Howard and his company FabScout? 

Lukas            As I said I work exclusively for Bel Ami, so Howard from FabScout contacted me through Jon and Jerry at Bel Ami, who he met at a convention in the USA and we then finalized details for me to come perform at Boardwalk.

Gio                  Have you performed live in Europe?  If so, what do you like about appearing live? 

Lukas            No, I haven’t performed live yet expect book signings and appearing at erotic festivals.

Gio                  Very cool, so we in Florida get to see you perform live for the 1^st time!  Your last videos for Bel Ami were the Lukas in Love series.  How did it feel to have these movies totally based on you? 

Lukas            I don’t feel like it’s based on me totally. Yes, I’m on the cover and there is my name in the title, but it is still just a movie like all the others. 

Gio                  And you are humble too!  Love it…In your opinion, why do you think you are one of the most recognized faces in gay porn, if you even knew that? 

Lukas             Thank you for the compliment. What can I say? I have no idea. 

Gio                  Have you ever taken for granted the fame you have achieved as a porn star? 

Lukas            I never expected that I would be a porn star.  It just happened... by accident. 

Gio                  Complete this sentence…The best part about being a porn star is… 

Lukas            …Meeting nice people who are kind to me and smiling, and the feeling that I have made a lot of people happy :) 

Gio                  The worst part about being a porn star is… 

Lukas            ...Losing privacy.  Also meeting people which are not so kind and polite, who sometimes try to get too close and just push things too far. 

Gio                  Do you get recognized in your country or when traveling for your porn work?  If so, how is that experience for you? 

Lukas            Yes I do. It depends on the people.  If they’re nice to me it is a good experience. Sometimes people don’t know where the proper boundaries are between the porn star and the person.   Fortunately it is not so often. 

Gio                  If I were to ask your two closest friends what your best qualities are, what would they tell me? 

Lukas            Ask them, it’s difficult to describe myself.  But probably they would say thinking positive and open minded were up there. 

Gio                  And, what would they say is your biggest opportunity for improvement? 

Lukas            Sometimes I like to do thousands of things at the same time, when maybe I should focus on a couple of them which are the most important. 

Gio                  What are you passionate about in life, besides porn? 

Lukas            I love sports. I go wakeboarding during the summer and play ice hockey in the winter.  I go to the gym, like to go to bars with friends and love the cinema. I love cars, especially classic cars.  There are so many things I do and so many things I would like to do :) 

Gio                  If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why? 

Lukas            This is probably the most difficult question here.  It seemed to be very easy at first but there is not one single person I could name.  I enjoy meeting anyone who is interesting and special in some way.  

Gio                  If you could travel anyplace in the world, where would it be and why? 

Lukas            There are many places I’d like to see. I’ve never been to Asia. I hope I will go there soon and maybe Thailand or Indonesia. 

Gio                  How old were you when you lost your virginity and how was that experience for you? 

Lukas            My first sexual experience was when I was 17.  But it was only blow job, because there was no place to have sex at that time. We were both young and we had oral sex almost everywhere. ‘Real’ sex I had when I was 18 and it was great. 

Gio                  Tell me about the most interesting place you have ever had sex? 

Lukas            Let me think about it.  Once I had sex in a dressing cabin at a swimming pool, or maybe the blow job during the day at the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town…..there was a beautiful view there. 

Gio                  Tell me your wildest sexual fantasy that has yet to be fulfilled? 

Lukas            When I was younger I always dreamed about a lot of hands and mouths taking care of my whole my body until I had a huge orgasm. 

Gio                  You have performed as both a top and bottom on film, do you prefer one over the other? 

Lukas             I like to fuck so I prefer to be on top.  

Gio                  Do you have anyone special in your life right now? 

Lukas             Yes 

Gio                  Is this your first time visiting South Florida?   

Lukas            I like this question. Yes (Big Smile) 

Gio                  Since this is your first time and you will be in South Florida for a week, is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to doing while here?

Lukas            I think I will enjoy the warmer weather and try to do some wakeboarding if it will be possible. Also I want to look around and do some Christmas shopping. 

Gio                  You are considered a type of gay icon for your porn work and very well recognized.  How do you think your work in porn has benefited the gay community worldwide? 

Lukas            I think that Bel Ami and me, as a part of Bel Ami have done some good things for the gay community, especially for young gay couples. One time I met a couple of young guys and they were crying and thanking me for showing them that they don’t have to be shy because of their sexuality. We’re showing how to make love between two young gay people in our movies.  We’re showing them it can be nice and exciting in comparison with a lot of the other companies showing gay porn. 

Gio                  Where do you see yourself in the next five years? 

Lukas            Gee, I really don’t know. It depends on many things, I think I’ll be shooting and editing for the next hundred years (Big Smile) 

Gio                  What is one thing about you that most people would be surprised to know? 

Lukas            Everybody has to have some surprises Gio...  they are for discovering and not revealing (Big Laugh) 

Gio                  Is there anything else that you would like to share with the readers? 

Lukas            Be good to people, make love, smile and enjoy sex...