James Franco Dishes on Love Scenes with Julia Roberts, Soaps, and School

James Franco has been exploring his artistic sides, starring in the much anticipated film, "Eat Pray Love," opposite Julia Roberts, debuting his first solo mixed media art exhibit, reappearing on "General Hospital," and planning to pursue a Ph.D. in English at Yale.

The Golden Globe winning actor recently took time out of his exhausting schedule to talk to Parade Magazine about working with Hollywood's most sought after leading lady and his renaissance-like career choices.

"She is very, very outgoing," said Franco of Julia Roberts.  "But I think she'll also admit pretty freely that she doesn't love to do love scenes and actually was charmingly shy when we had to do them."

He added that part of the reason he agreed to his role in "Eat Pray Love" was the chance to work with Roberts.

"That was pretty much the reason I did it. I knew that all my scenes would be with Julia. I thought it would be a great experience."

In contrast to working with the Oscar winner, Franco has also been appearing as the artist/serial killer, Franco, on the soap opera "General Hospital."  

"They move very, very quickly," said Franco of acting on the small screen.  " I guess I didn't realize how fast they moved, but I quickly tried to adapt and I think I did OK. I learned all my lines!"

Although Franco admitted he was not always a fan of soaps, the genre has grown on him.  "I really appreciated the structure and the serial nature of it and the history of it. I like a lot of films and shows that pay homage to soaps, like Twin Peaks."

So, amidst the soaps, love scenes and extracurricular art projects, how does Franco spend his time:  studying at school. 

"Going to school grounds me," explained the actor who has two graduate degrees and will attend Yale in the fall. 

"It exposes me to incredibly smart people who are teaching all the subjects that I'm interested in. It keeps me focused where, before, I just would get very anxious about needless things."

"Eat Pray Love," the film adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir hits theaters August 13.

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