A former Mormon has told how she abandoned her religion to become a porn star after spending years 'sexually repressed'.

Addie Andrews, 30, joined the church when she was 17 after growing up in a religious household and spent nine years observing its rules until moving to Los Angeles to try to become an actress.

When that failed, she started stripping and was soon reeled into the porn industry.

Now, she is telling how she chose to leave her faith after abstaining from sex for nine years.

Porn star Addie Andrews (pictured in May) has told how she abandoned the church to become an adult actress

'I was very sexually repressed! You’re essentially a nun, devoted to your religion for that period of time,' she told The New York Post.

Andrews, who has not shared her real name, grew up in the Pacific Northwest in what she describes as a small town. She did not specify which state she calls home.

Aged 17, she was able to choose which church she wanted to join.

She had already had sex once, but decided to recommit herself to abstinence once she was formally part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

'The church took me in, was so welcoming, and wanted to do well by me,' she said.

She then spent 18 months converting then stayed committed to the religion until she had sex again aged 26.

Andrews then left the church for good in 2017 after being told that she could not be a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding because the dress she would have to wear was too revealing.

'The problem is not just that premarital sex is denied but that they make it out to be a very serious sin and shameful thing to do.

Andrews, 30, said she was 'sexually repressed' for years when she was in the church

Andrews worked as a stripper for a time and that is how she came into contact with porn agents

'The deeper I got into the religion, the farther from my own identity I got,' she said.

The 30-year-old is now on the cover of Penthouse magazine as its 'pet of the month'

She moved to L.A. with hopes of becoming an actress but struggled to find work and ended up working as a stripper.

In that job, she was contacted by porn agents.

She partnered with one in January and is now working in the porn industry. She was named Penthouse magazine's 'Pet of the month' this month.

Andrews says that her religious family are supportive of her career.

'I knew that they’d be a little shocked when I told them about my adult work,” she says. 'While they’ve been open-minded about her new career, they’re also averting their eyes.

'My brother said, "I will definitely never watch your porn, but you seem happier than ever, so I support your decision."'