Porn Stars Get Deep on the 40th Anniversary of Deep Throat [PICS]

It's been 40 years since Linda Lovelace unhinged her jaw and starred in Deep Throat (1972), the movie that started the "porno chic" revolution.

And now, ten years after her untimely death in 2002, Linda is experiencing something of a renaissance as Amanda Seyfried stars as the embattled XXX queen in Lovelace and a parade of porn stars line up to pay lip service.

The Daily Beast asked some of the biggest names in the biz for their thoughts on Linda's legacy:

Joanna Angel, founder and CEO of Burning Angel: “Deep Throat gained this level of legitimacy where everybody knows about this film and saw it. When I started Burning Angel, my goal was to cross over and become a piece of pop culture and create a place where people were comfortable and celebrated sexuality. I wanted to take something that was supposed to be secretive, bad, and dirty, and turn it into something cool, that people could talk about and relate to.”

Stormy Daniels, Wicked writer/director/performer and crossover star (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up): “It opened so many doors for the adult industry, women and sexuality in general. Up until that point I bet some men didn’t even know that women had a clitoris. This began wanting to please your partner and took the shame out of being aroused or wanting to have an orgasm. I think the movie did great things.”

Alexis Texas, AVN winner and crossover star of Bloodlust Zombies (2011): "Women are now more confident and accepting of themselves. In the last five to 10 years women have stepped out and made it known that it’s not just about men. I came to the realization that women have to be very vocal about what they want and don’t want. And that’s evident with more women in higher positions to make business decisions nowadays and involved behind and in front of the camera in the adult industry.”

Jessica Drake, three-time AVN winner, Wicked performer, and host of In Bed with Jessica Drake: “I think that she was very bold, a sexual pioneer who opened up communication between couples that saw her movie. And I know that she fought an even bigger stigma than the one that I fight today. I’m very disappointed that she later said, ‘I was forced to do it,’ but there is a lot of stress associated with being an adult star in certain circumstances.”

You can perform your own one-handed salute to porn pioneer Linda Lovelace on our Deep Throat (1972) and Linda Lovelace for President (1975) pages right here at MrSkin.com!