James Franco: The Movieline Interview
You know, I interviewed your artistic collaborator Carter a couple of months ago...
Wait, for Movieline?
For Movieline, yeah.
Oh, yeah -- so you broke that! That was a pretty good article!
Well, when the General Hospital stint was announced, I immediately thought, "Carter's fingerprints are all over that."
They are, but then it also became a different thing.
One thing he told me to ask you is what prompts you to so often play around with your image. You've played yourself -- or at least a version of yourself -- in a whole lot of things, whether it's in Carter's short films or, recently, 30 Rock.
Let's see. [Pause] I think in some ways, using my persona in some of these projects -- even though it's not really me, they just use my name in some of these shows and it's supposed to be me, even if it's really not -- by doing that, it allows me to access different places in a certain way. You know what I mean? It creates a different dimension. Like, for General Hospital, because they call my character Franco -- and that was their idea, by the way -- it's not just another actor coming in and creating a character. It's referencing itself and it's drawing attention to that fact. I did 30 Rock, where I played "James Franco"...
You even played yourself in Knocked Up.
Yeah, exactly. [Laughs] I mean, a lot of that is...hmmm. I mean, Knocked Up, I don't know, that was just that they needed some actor to do that...
I'm just saying, you look at the IMDb credits for the parts you've played, and there's a whole lot of "Himself," "Himself," "Himself."
Yeah, I guess. Well, a lot of that is because they name the characters me.
But obviously it's playing around with the public perception of you. Do you enjoy doing that?
When you put it like that...hmmm. It's not like I'm trying to cultivate some image of myself. It's more like I'm allowed to do certain things and I'm given certain opportunities -- like being on General Hospital and having this whole crazy character sculpted for me -- because of that. I mean, I'm trained as an actor so I could play different characters, but for now, there's something about how playing myself mixes the imaginary world that I'm entering with my outside life. It brings them together in an interesting way. For these projects I'm doing that for, it's a very interesting intersection.
[Lead Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images]
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Comments
And yet, somehow the elephant in the room remained unremarked upon....... Mr Franco should maybe consider when portraying gay men and not in any way identifying as one can be seen as exploitation. Come out, come out who ever you are........
what, no "feast of stephen"?
Great interview, but what we really wanted to know is DOES HE LOVE ME, I mean, um, would he ever guest star on Glee?
Sooo...I will have to remember that exploitation thing the next time a gay actor plays a straight and doesn't come out as to his true sexuality. Because that has never happened. EVER.
And yet I always wonder, what in the world does his sexuality have to do with anything? Who cares?!
Glad the Franco interview finally arrived (long time coming). Well done!
When you play a number of high profile gay roles, moonlight in 'camp' soap operas and take gay cinema courses at college and yet choose to remain sexually ambigous, isn't it unrealistic to expect noone having any interest in your sexuality? Role models for the gay community are still important in this climate. If in the unlikely event that Franco was gay and did come out it would not be a surprise nor, I think would it seriously damage his career. It would however prove a positive image for gay men and women thinking of entering the profession and give hope to those already working in the notoriously homophobic industry.
Timbouk: James Franco is not gay. He's been with Ahna O'Reilly for like four years. It doesn't seem like he'd be someone who would work that hard to repress his sexuality. If he was "secretly" gay, do you think he would be playing these gay roles all the time? It seems to me that if he was gay he would be someone who would be open and proud of it. He's very supportive of the gay community.
Why does everyone think he is gay? is it just because he actively explores various aspects of the human condition? it seems only those who are secure within themselves can so intensely pursue their natural interests. great article! i love him.
/
James and Ahna are no longer "together"--not that her presence in his life was ever unimpeachable proof of his heterosexuality. Currently there are more reasons to think he's gay/bi than straight, if you're paying any attention to his career and press. How many gay poems does he have to make into short films before your wheels start turning?
As for him being open and proud, here's his take on why most closeted actors don't come out:
"Well, it's uuuuuuuuh, I mean, it's a big issue. I don't know, I mean..(wipes head with palm and lets out a huge sigh) You know, I guess if you're talking about you know, like, coming out about one's sexuality, you know, back in the day, in Harvey Milk's day the gay liberation movement was all about coming out, coming out, coming out. I don't know if that's so necessary today. You know, a lot of people believe it isn't.
"If you want to come out, you know, if someone would want to come out I, I believe that he or she should be able to. We see more gay roles in mainstream films, but the reverse isn't true. It's like, okay now for straight actors to play gay roles, but, it's not quite, I don't think it's quite the same for gay actors to play straight roles. And so that's, maybe, what inhibits a lot of people who are in the closet from coming out. If we're talking about, you know being gay. If you're talking about body pillows? Come out! I don't think anybody will care. (laughter)"
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/23/james-franco's-take-on-actors-coming-out-of-the-closet/
It sounds like you're creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place.
And you know this how, Ponzi?
Why was she with him at Sundance if they aren't together?
Why was she with him at the SNL wrap party...?
There is no reason to believe they aren't still a couple. And if you've seen credible evidence to counter this, by all means, do share.
Those of you who want to insist that Franco's gay, are you NOT READING this article?!? He's playing with his image! He obviously does NOT care what people think because he wants to explore different types of cinema. Personally, I HATE that he chooses such roles. (And I don't care what anyone thinks about that. I hate that lifestyle! Not the people, just the lifestyle! I believe it is learned behaviour & a true downfall to ANY community.) Anyway, James has come out & said he is NOT gay. Somehow, I believe him. And I believe he loves Ahna but I wish he'd marry her already!
Oy. So only communities with ev.ol gays in them fall apart.
Good to know.