He's just emerging as one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors but it's fair to say that James Franco is already flying high. The talented star became a qualified pilot as part of his research for his latest movie, First World War epic Flyboys. And though he'd never even been in a cockpit before, it's clear James still hasn't come back down to earth following his "thrilling" experience. "The director Tony Bill, who is a pilot himself, had some of his friends take me up in a Stearman, which had an open cockpit," he explains excitedly. "We did all the loops and it was such a blast. Afterwards I thought, `I've got four months before filming. I might as well get my licence.' So I went every day and did my time and I got it - it was brilliant" The have-a-go actor says he was inspired to take to the skies after watching his favourite actor Steve McQueen in the 1962 movie The War Lover. "In that movie he plays a pilot and just looks so natural and detailed in and around the plane because he was a real pilot," he says. "I wanted to try and come close to something like that and I felt the only way to do it was to get my licence." Flyboys, which also stars acclaimed French actor Jean Reno, tells the true story of the young men of the Lafayette Escadrille, the first American fighter pilot squadron to see action in the First World War when a group of brave volunteers signed up to join the French and British allies in the fight for democracy. Though 29-year-old James admits he wasn't familiar with their actions, he was immediately inspired by his character Blaine Rawlings and the heroics of the Lafayette Escadrille. "Rawlings and the people around him all volunteered to be there, to put their lives on the line," James explains. "I can't say I've ever done anything like that in my life and, because they did that, I had such great respect for them and considered them heroes. "They volunteered for something they believed in and were willing to risk everything for that. At the time when these men formed The Lafayette Escadrille, America hadn't even entered the war. These men believed that it was the right thing to do and were willing to fight for it and make sacrifices for it." Flyboys is the second military movie James has appeared in. He also starred in last year's Annapolis. However, he is probably best known for his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of James Dean in the TV biopic of the same name, along with his highly acclaimed TV breakthrough in Freaks And Geeks and more recently his role as Harry Osborn in Spider-Man 1, 2 and 3. It's this eclectic choice of parts and his ability to switch from indie to block-buster that means James has avoided being typecast - something he's more than happy about. "I don't want to be typecast," James states firmly. "My criteria for a good part is only ever a good director and the people I'm working with. I never really think about the role. I've had very different films come out in the past few years so I just don't know what to pick any more," he adds with a laugh. And despite rapidly becoming one of the sexiest actors around, James insists he was a complete loner as a youngster and only went into acting as a way of escaping reality. "When I first went into acting, it was a kind of relief. It was a voice that I didn't have," he admits, "but I think there are a lot of actors like that. I think it was Robert Duvall who said he wasn't used to talking to a lot of people but he became an actor anyway and De Niro seemed very much the same way. For me it was acting and inhabiting a different part and pretending to be in a different world that frees up whatever isn't free in the real world. So it is not such a contradiction, really." Now the former loner is very much in demand and has become one of the biggest heart-throbs in Hollywood. But though he's a big hit with the ladies, the reluctant star prefers to keep his private life private and shuns the red carpet for more creative pursuits, namely writing and painting. "At one time I wasn't sure if I wanted to be an actor or a painter or a writer. Now I do all three, which is great," he explains. "Acting takes precedence at the moment, but ultimately I'd like to do a movie every two years so I can concentrate on the other things." Yet, despite this down-to-earth outlook, the talented star concedes his head is still in the clouds with his sudden soaraway success. "I am very, very fortunate," he says with a disarming smile. "I got to go up into the sky and do acrobatic manoeuvres in a plane and I got to play a fantastic character. Frankly, nowadays a lot of the roles I see around are these weak, scummy young guys, and that is not as appealing to me. Flyboys was a big, romantic, dynamic film. I wanted to be a part of it." They volunteered for something they believed in and were willing to risk everything for that. At the time America hadn't even entered the war | 
