Briana Bany was born in Munich, Germany to a German father and an Italian-American mother. They moved to Britain when she was four years old, and to the Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley in California, United States when she was seven years old. Her father still lives in Germany. She moved out of her mothers house when she was 16 years old, taking her 14 year old sister with her. She got custody of her sister when she turned 18. She modeled as a teenager, including a cover of Teen magazine. She held various other jobs before entering the adult industry; making pizza, clerk at an arts and crafts store, file clerk, and secretary.
In 1999, she responded to an ad in the newspaper to do nude modeling for adult magazines. The photographer put her in a pornographic film. Her first film was University Coeds 18, for Dane Entertainment, in which she performed opposite Brandon Iron. She entered the industry under the name "Mirage", but began calling herself "Briana Banks" in 2000, after having the first of two breast enlargement operations. Having had aspirations of being a supermodel, she chose the professional surname "Banks" after model Tyra Banks. Her first appearance using the new name was in the film Decadent Whores 9. She was Penthouse magazine's Pet of the Month in June 2001. The same year, she signed with Vivid Entertainment.
Awards
* Penthouse Pet June 2001
* Hot D'Or Cannes 2001 – Best American New Starlet
* AVN Awards for "Best Renting Title of the Year", and "Best Selling Title of the Year", Briana Loves Jenna, 2003
* 2009 AVN Hall of Fame inductee
