Ferrara was born in Le Raincy, France and raised in nearby Gagny. He was born to a French father and a Spanish mother. His father was an electrician and his mother was a cleaning lady who had immigrated to France. He lost his father at the age of seventeen. While attending college, he studied to become a P.E. teacher. Ferrara shot his first hardcore scene in 1997 during his studies, after answering an ad in a French pornographic magazine. He then started a career as a professional porn actor, appearing in various French and European productions. He chose the stage name Manuel Ferrara because of his passing resemblance to boxer-turned-actor Stéphane Ferrara. Ferrara became a protégé of Rocco Siffredi, who recommended him for a role in John Stagliano's Fashionistas in which he made his American debut. In 2002, he appeared in blockbuster hit Snoop Dogg's Hustlaz: Diary of a Pimp. In 2003, he started directing gonzo pornography for Platinum X Pictures, a subsidiary of Red Light District Video. In 2004, he began directing for Red Light. After working for Red Light District for the two years, Ferrara began directing for Evil Angel in May 2006. His first Evil Angel film was Evilution, starring Naomi, Melissa Lauren and featuring the comeback of Nici Sterling. Since then, he has directed several porn series, including Fucked on Sight, Slutty & Sluttie...