Franco’s artistic ambitions

James Franco has learned to live with his critics, said Helena de Bertodano in The Daily Telegraph (U.K.). The actor, 34, is a multitasking Renaissance man who famously supplements his Hollywood work with frenetic forays into writing, painting, and academic studies. “It’s not new at all—that term, Renaissance man,’’ he says. “But because I come from the commercial film world or maybe popular culture, when I do it, it is baffling to people.’’ He has published books of poetry and short stories, exhibited his art in Berlin and New York, and completed four graduate degrees. The response hasn’t been entirely positive. “If I do something that has the slightest bit of pretension or inclination toward something deeper, people just go crazy. It drives them cr-aaaaaaaa-zy that an actor would dare write a poem, or a book, or make a piece of art.” He says he has learned to tune out “the culture of hate and snarkiness,’’ and spends virtually every working hour at his various creative interests. “I’ve developed a thick skin. I’m not afraid of embarrassment anymore. What should I do? Stop? To me that’s a coward’s way out.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up