James Franco 'would admit if he was gay'

James Franco has insisted that he would have no problem admitting if he was gay.

In an interview with The Advocate, the actor admitted that fans often confuse his on-screen characters with his real life but said that he has no reason to hide his sexuality.

"Sure, I'd tell you if I was [gay]. I guess the reason I wouldn't is because I'd be worried that it would hurt my career. I suppose that's the reason one wouldn't do that, right? But no, that wouldn't be something that would deter me," he explained.

"I'm going to do projects that I want to do. Everyone thinks I'm a stoner, and some people think I'm gay because I've played these gay roles. That's what people think, but it's not true. I don't smoke pot. I'm not gay."

In portraying gay poet Allen Ginsberg in the upcoming film Howl, he added: "In this history of cinema, there are so many heterosexual love stories. It's so hammered, so done.

"It's just not that interesting to me. It's more interesting to me to play roles and relationships that haven't been portrayed as often."

Howl opens in the US on September 24.