James Franco read Playboy as a child

The 34-year-old actor James Franco used to sneakily read Playboy magazine when he was younger.

James plays Playboy’s publication founder Hugh Hefner in upcoming biopic 'Lovelace' and he revealed he has always been a fan of Hugh Hefner.

The movie’s main star character, Linda Lovelace will be portrayed by the US actress Amanda Seyfried.

Despite being a fan, James has never met Hugh in person, as he admits in an interview for ShortList magazine: "No, although I've always been a fan of his work since I was a kid. Seriously, if I could get my hands on his magazines I would - my friend's father had a stash we used to look at when he wasn't home.

"I play him during his 70s persona - a much younger, more self-aware Hef. It's funny, watching old interviews to research the part, I saw that he's not just a smut-hound, he's pretty interesting. His aim was to mix the mind and body in his magazine in a way that was unprecedented back then - really raw. It's a tame publication these days."

James hopes Hugh will appreciate his "dignified" portrayal and he has made sure to capture the darker side of the adult entertainment industry accurately.

He added: "I tried to portray him with a bit of complexity and dignity. But there are also the needs of the film to address - to fit him into the kind of story the producers are trying to tell. Linda Lovelace might have started off wide-eyed about the industry, but it gets serious, and Hef has to deliver some of that harshness to her. I don't think he's seen it yet, but I hope he'll like it."