Actor James Franco has retreated from the film industry spotlight in recent years following a sexual harassment lawsuit. Instead, he now devotes more time to his art. He is currently exhibiting his works in his own exhibition “Hollywood is Hell” in Zurich.
From workaholic to reflective artist?
Franco, who has enjoyed success in his career as an actor as well as a director and screenwriter, has now spoken out about his recent past. “I was a workaholic,” admits the 46-year-old to “Bild”. “I wore my lifestyle like a medal. You’re trying to cover up fears and insecurity. Fame and recognition were like a drug for me.” This lifestyle led to a collapse in 2019 when the American was sued for sexual exploitation of former students at his drama school. According to several media outlets, he is said to have paid around 2.2 million euros in the subsequent out-of-court settlement.
A time that obviously shaped him because of the media backlash and motivated him to change his behavior. “I had forgotten how to have real relationships,” he told Bild. But today Franco “found his balance”. Mediation, writing a diary and regular exercise are now part of his everyday life.
“Sometimes Hollywood is like heaven, sometimes it’s like hell.”
In another interview, the James Dean actor also spoke about his development as a visual artist. “I worked with painting and art as a teenager,” he explained to “Blick”. “My family was always connected to art, and I dreamed of being an artist from an early age.” He has pursued this passion, which was long overshadowed by his successful acting career, more intensively in recent years. In particular, the current exhibition “Hollywood is Hell” in Zurich, where he shows his works, reflects his ambivalent attitude towards the “dream factory”. For the actor, Hollywood is more than just a place of fame. It is also a symbol of superficiality and decay. “Sometimes Hollywood is like heaven, sometimes like hell,” is how he described his feelings towards the film industry to “Blick”.
“I really like it here”
James Franco, who has spent more time in Europe in recent years – including through film projects in Italy and engagements in the fashion sector – enjoys living on the continent, far away from home. He particularly enjoys his time in Switzerland, where he is currently presenting his art. “I really like it here,” he said about his stay in Zurich in “Blick”.
Despite his withdrawal from Hollywood, Franco remains connected to the film world, but without letting it define him. “For me it’s a bonus that I’m still able to make films and create art. But my inner balance is no longer dependent on this work,” he continued.