Beyond her on-screen work, Grey is an advocate for the adult entertainment industry, focusing on issues like performers' rights, sex education, and stigma reduction. She co-founded the production company, Elegant Angel, and has produced several films, showcasing her business acumen and creative vision.

Her legacy is often discussed in academic circles regarding the mainstreaming of adult performers and the blurring of lines between subculture and pop culture. Whether through her early films, her work with renowned photographers like Terry Richardson, or her current role as a digital influencer, Grey remains a singular figure who redefined the trajectory of 21st-century stardom.

Grey’s transition was anything but accidental. She landed a lead role in Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 indie film The Girlfriend Experience , playing a high-end escort—a role that leveraged her persona while demanding genuine acting chops. Soderbergh later said he chose her because she was "very bright, very analytical, and fearless."