Culture

James Franco: ‘It is partly my fault’ that people think I’m gay

Mar 04 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Actor James Franco has said that he has no problem with people questioning his sexuality, and said that it was “partly my fault” when discussing rumours that he might be gay.

In an interview with Attitude magazine, the 34-year-old actor and director addressed questions around his sexuality, and went on to say that he thinks it is time for high-profile actors in Hollywood to come out.

“One of the things that’s very much part of my public image is the question of my sexuality,” he said, “It’s not something that bothers me in the slightest. It hasn’t gone away and I get asked about it from all sides. It’s partly my doing and partly not my doing.”

Addressing fears that gay actors wouldn’t be able to land straight roles, he said: “I think that the people I have known who are performers who haven’t publicly come out didn’t because they’re afraid it’ll hurt their careers. And they’re afraid they won’t be able to play straight roles anymore.

“I think I could see a really big name coming out and doing that,” the 127 Hours star continued.

“I think the time is about right. I’m not an authority on this but if I think about it for a second…if there’s somebody that was well respected and very secure with their career, I could see it happening in a very positive way.”

Not the first time Franco has been subject to rumours in the media about his sexuality, in 2011, after rumours that he had been dating a man, he was falsely accused of assaulting him. Franco’s lawyers warned off two gossip magazines because no complaint was ever filed with the police, and the accuser later admitted he had ever met the star.

Then, hinting at further gossip about his sexuality, he told the magazine: “I was in Milk, a movie I felt strongly about. Some more great rumours will be coming up.”

A long time advocate for gay rights, Franco has a history of taking on gay film roles, which has inevitably stoked curiosity about his sexuality. In a 2011 interview he said “maybe I’m just gay”.

He recently teamed up with a gay art-porn director to produce and star in an indie film which re-imagines footage lost from the 1980 film Cruising which starred Al Pacino. Franco’s film, Cruising, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last Friday.

The full interview will be available to read in Attitude magazine, which comes out on Wednesday.