Is James Franco Just Messing With Us?

Or is the hyper-focused actor-slash-everything for real?
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 26, 2010 12:44 PM CDT
Is James Franco Just Messing With Us?
Actor James Franco arrives for the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

“Can James Franco possibly be for real?” That's the question that consumes Sam Anderson’s extensive New York profile on the actor who is no longer just an actor: He’s enrolled in four graduate programs and planning to start a PhD program at Yale before he's even done with them; he publishes short stories and puts on art shows; and all the while he still has the time to appear in some seven movies coming out in the next year. And let’s not forget that General Hospital guest role.

If he is for real, “Why is Franco doing it?” Anderson wonders. “Is he genuinely trying to improve himself or is he just messing with us?” Anderson talks to classmates, professors, colleagues, family, and friends, all of whom insist this is the real deal. “What does that even mean?” Franco himself asks, when told he’s rumored to be spreading himself too thin. “If the work is good, what does it matter? I’m doing it because I love it. Why not do as many things I love as I can?” Click here to read the crazy profile in its entirety.
(More James Franco stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X