About 10 years ago I watched the very cheesy Natalie Portman film Where The Heart Is a couple of times (ok, I owned it) due to her dark and brooding co-star, British actor James Frain. His character reminded me of a guy I used to date in that they both were tall with angular features and had a sort of quiet depth. In hindsight I’m sure the guy I dated wasn’t all that thoughtful and was just depressed, but there was something about Frain that struck me as familiar and compelling. I remember consulting Frain’s IMDB page at the time and hoping for more leading roles for him, but I didn’t see him in much and he kind of dropped off the radar for me.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I was more than delighted to see Frain on True Blood as the conniving vampire Franklin Mott*. There’s a new spark in his eyes to go along with his scruff, and he’s hotter to me at 42. Frain may not be as buff as True Blood’s other fresh male meat, Joe Manganiello, but I know who I’d prefer to throw me down on the bed. (Although not necessarily tie me there in a wedding gown – as foreplay maybe.) A smoking hot body
only goes so far, but Frain has a kind of rock star attitude that makes him magnetic. Maybe I’m just confused by this guy’s superb acting ability, but I don’t care.
Frain has been married for the last six years to writer/director Marta Cunningham. I cannot find any information on whether they have children. Here are links to a fansite with a biography of Frain and a a Facebook page for fans.
Thanks to everyone who requested a gratuitous James Frain post. We’re more than happy to oblige.
*I haven’t watched The Tudors, where Frain starred as Thomas Cromwell. I’ll definitely rent the first season on your recommendations.
Below is a compilation of Frain’s scenes from True Blood so far. [via AboutJamesFrain.com] Its NSFW as there are F bombs. “Watch me type motherf*cker.” There are also spoilers for past episodes here. And here’s a link to an interview in which Frain discusses his character on True Blood. It also has potential (mild) spoilers.
NOTE BY KAISER: This dude is creepy as hell! Why do you find him hot? In obscure British stuff, he always plays the psycho killer. For good reason- he has serial killer eyes! Also: He looks deathly and corpsey.
Header: Frain on September 2009. Credit: WENN.
I LOVED him on The Tudors-glad to see him working!
You HAVE to rent the Tudors for the first three seasons. He rocked it. The Tudors hasn’t been the same, but that can’t be changed.
He kind of reminds me of an elf.
He’s an amazing actor! You’d hate his character if it wasn’t for James Frain playing him. And it’s not his hotness it’s the artfull and elegant in its madness way he plays Franklin that keeps viewers entertained and intrigued all the way. He’s the best thing about True blood this season.
P.S.Like Vampire King of Missisipy actor too (sorry forgot his name).
Ugly Sexy (rreally Kaiser, haven’t you heard of that?)
Frain is great as Franklin Mott. LOVE the character, as bat-shit crazy as he is.
very, very strange looking man. So i’m thankful to see him on True Blood, where most of the characters are so conventionally beautiful. I think having an unusual face really adds some interest to the show.
In the scene at the bar when he was meeting Tara, I thought, “umm, hot! He wasn’t hot on the Tudors.” But now I’m back to “creepy and weird”. I like him a lot.
There’s this miniseries called The Buccaneers he was in a few years ago. He does creepy very well in that one too.
I agree with all of the above, there is just something about him!! He can bite my neck anytime!
I agree with Kaiser!
BUT I loved Where the Heart Is!
Ooh – I loved the Buccaneers, too. A young Carla Gugino, too!
Saw him in one of the Law & order SVU episodes, creepy dude. He always looks like he just got out of bed or something.
Interesting, this one. I’m all over a messy looking man but pluck those eyebrows just a tad, dear. Not Joey Lawrence style – just a bit. 🙂
He reminds me of F. Murray Abraham, only not as handsome.
Ewww.
@ C/B and Charissa
Yes, saw him in The Buccaneers. Agree, he was very good.
He has all neccessary personal attributes to convincingly play odd, twisted characters.
So my petition worked! 🙂 Thanks CB!
I know he isn’t the standard beefy hot guy, but there is something about this man that makes me go “unfff”. He seems to be very charismatic…like he can just talk the panties off of you. I have a thing for him.
ummmmmm… no
James Frain has done a lot of television, film and stage work since his very appealing turn in “Where The Heart Is,” all of it brilliant! Check out his pages on the IMDb.com and see just how busy he’s been. He might be physically beautiful to only some of us, but everybody agrees about his incredible acting ability!
Please visit Facebook Fans of James Frain, url above.
Thanks, CB!!! I think I might rewatch the Tudors. I cannot get enough of this guy right now.
Not feeling it. (I didn’t find him hot in Where the Heart Is either)
I was a HUGE fan of The Tudors. Frain is a talented actor. Can’t wait to see how his character unfolds in True Blood.
classic serial killer dialogue:
tara – “we have to talk.”
franklin – “don’t say that. women say that, then everything goes black and i wake up surrounded by body parts.”
lol 🙂
He’s a hottie because you really feel he wants to do bad things with you. Bad, dirty, debauched things…
oh come on !!!! i LOVED ‘where the heart is’.. campy, yes, but great story nevertheless…read some of billie lett’s other books. those are kinds of characters she creates.. and i LOVE FRANKLIN IN TRUE BLOOD !! he has this ‘syrupy’ style of speaking and combined with ‘the eyes’.. yum..TEAM FRANKLIN !
Header photo = Monchichi. Evil Monchichi.
I have yet to see him on True Blood but he’s very, very good on The Tudors. He also looks better on screen than in photos IMO. Great actor.
eh i don’t think he is hot OR creepy looking…just weird….quirky? i like quirky usually, but this is not my cup of tea. this is the kind of look that would have to have an amazing personality to compliment it to make it worth my time.
YES! Squeeeee. Where my girl lena at? *fist bump* Ok. Now I’ll wrestle you for him. 😀
can’t edit anymore, but just wanted to add that if he were a woman there is no doubt she would be proclaimed ugly and worn out.
He had my very favorite line of the week in True Blood!! I don’t think he is good looking at all, but something about him is just so creepy it is almost sexy. He just is great as Franklin Mott, and I hope to see a lot more of him this season!!
I LOVED him on the Tudors, and I’ve hated Thomas Cromwell since I was a kid. Plus this guy has one of those amazing, melty British guy voices…
i’m with kaiser … i don’t get it. though, since kaiser and i are in the ‘skanky!hot!gerard butler/sean bean’ group, it’s actually nice to know there’s a brand of sexy even less obvious than the one we support.
“She’s such a f*ckin’ disaster; we could be twins.” LOVE that line!
And for those who don’t “get” the attraction, it’s called magnetism. If you don’t get it, you’ve never met it, and I feel sorry for you. 😉
I’m right here I choose me! I have to warn you though, I’m a pretty good wrestler 🙂
I love me some “Vampire Cromwell”, he can tickle my lady parts anytime he wants to
Ok, he is one of those actors where if you saw him walking down the street you probably wouldn’t notice, but there is just something about him that makes him so sexy. Maybe the creepy/serial killer vibe is part of what makes him sexy…he seems dangerous. I totally get the Frain love. Also, he’s a fantastic actor who has had small roles that he shines in for years. So glad to see him getting mainstream recognition!
He looks like he has bad breath and body odor.
I’m with you CB! His accent and his magnetism are sexyyyy! Of course, he’s not what you’d call pretty but attraction has nothing to do with good looks, in my opinion.
He’s fantastic in True Blood, I want to see more of him and thank God they found an interesting storyline for Tara.
I also fine him very sicky looking.
I understand “ugly sexy.” I think of Joe Perry from Aerosmith as the ultimate in “ugly sexy,” and maybe Mick Jagger could be in that category, too, but this guy? Um, no… although he is definitely a great actor! I have to FF through some of his scenes with Tara though – I hate seeing her hurt AGAIN.
He was also in “The Count of Monte Cristo”, one of my all time favorite movies, as Prosecutor Villefort
“I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN STAKED!”
Best.Line.Ever!!!
Also, TALENT is sexy. Just sayin’
There is something about him. Not hot persay-but definitely something. I loved him Where The Heart Is and He rocked in The tudors-but of course there’s lots hot man meat in there too. Unfortunately I won’t get True Blood on Hulu occasionally, or i would so watch it for him.
Also….
Would it be too much to request a Theo Alexander (perhaps partial) post??? He plays Talbot, my new favorite TB character. He’s super hot, sexy, and HILARIOUS!
tara’s eyes turned black while she was bangin’ eggs…
then, her eyes were rollin’ back in her head when franklin hit it.
is she having the best sex on that show or what?
lol 🙂
He was also really good in Californication last season, if anyone saw him in that?
Not my cuppa! 😉
I do love that movie Where the Heart Is, but Frain hasn’t aged well. He looks homeless and in need of a good scrubbing and a good meal. However, he does have beautiful, intense eyes.
a little off topic but… i cant stand tara on true blood. shes the most annoying character/actress i have to endure on a weekly basis.
He looks like Screech. Ewwww.
The part where he tapes the flowers to Tara’s hands is hysterical. He was trying to be romantic LOL LOL. I love this guy
@ Strawberry: who did he play on Californication, Mia’s boyfriend/manager? Great show.
Tia C – I hear ya.
I love JF every since “Where the Heart Is” (go Fornie!). But I hate how his character is tying up, kidnapping, torturing Tara. It’s not cool especially after all the crap she went through wity MaryAnn last season. I’m pissed that AB & Co didn’t go a different direction with Tara+Franklin this season!
Bored@Work:
He was also in “The Count of Monte Cristo”, one of my all time favorite movies, as Prosecutor Villefort
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I Forgot he was in The Count, And I’ve watch that movie way, way too many times to count. But he will always be Fornie to me.
But my how bad he’s aged since those 2 movies. At least then, he was actually hot and very healthy looking.
He is freaky, ugly and I do not like his character on the show. The storyline is totally not needed.
. . . Why am I not watching True Blood?
He is not hot at all! He is so gross looking!!!! There is nothing hot about him whatsoever!!!!!
not hot. he looks like a rotten ferret lemur.
Thank you CB!
Franklin Mott is by far the most charismatic new character on True Blood this season. His one liners are fricking hilarious and damn if I don’t love that accent!
Yes, Frain’s not conventionally handsome, but I am just drawn to him whenever he appears on the screen.
yech. He looks like a bat.
he’s a great actor but looking worse and worse as the years go by.
the french have a wonderful term for people who are so odd looking they are hot: “jolie-laide,” which means “pretty-ugly.” james is jolie-laide.
Like his character and it seems to fit somewhat with the book one, though he does seem a bit more psycho on the show…
I KNEW I saw him on the Tudors! Yeah, he’s a good actor because his roles are very different in these two shows and he rocked both.
Not hot but the sex scene with him and Tara was 🙂
I definetely think JF is sexy. No, he’s not conventially attractive. But so what. He has a magnetism about him that just draws you in. How else could he make a psychotic, kidnapping, killer so attractive. In the hands of another actor I would’ve hated Franklin on TB. But, as JF plays him I’m actually kinda rooting for the needy sociopath, and his relationship with Tara. Weird
Funnily enough CB, I first came across Mr. Frain about 10 years ago, but it was in the dramatisation of the book “Armadillo”, so to this day I still think of him as Lorimar Black above everything else (Stephen Rea is brilliant in it btw).
And he is very good in “The County of Monte Cristo” as someone else said.
But i most recently saw him in Grey’s and I honest-to-God didn’t recognise him! He’s lost so much weight and it doesn’t suit him. Lorimar – time to tuck into a good old fashioned Sunday roast or 10 😉
Thanks Bored@Work, since it’s my day off, and u mentioned my favorite movie, I have found the link to The Count Of Monte Cristo movie online, and am now watching it.
I’m enjoying all of the love that Vampire Cromwell is getting today…the haters aren’t allowed back in unless you are willing to convert 🙂
He’s looking a bit skinny like maybe he really is sick. Would look much better with more muscle meat on his bones, and his face not so gaunt.
He is so, so, so sexy. I love him. He should definitely put some weight on, though.
He needs a good meal and a shower.
LOVE IT!!!
Love Love Love it. Thank you for posting about Franklin. I will have to rent the 1st 3 seasons of the Tutors. I love him in Count of Monte Cristo too. He’s friggin’ funny and a freak on True Blood. He’s a great character to break up some of the drama. Not all vamps are created equal!
His comedy timing is too perfect. Will always love a man who can make me bust out laughing. Don’t even care what he looks like -his voice is very sexy & real laughter is priceless!
I am totally loving the insane Franklin Mott character and the story line involving Tara. Poor girl can’t catch a break.
I’m with Kaiser on this one. I don’t find him attractive at all! But he is a good actor.
Hi! As a long-time admirer of Mr. Frain and webmaster of “About James Frain” I wanted to thank you for the mostly lovely “gratuitous James Frain post.” Also for the references to our site. It’s been great fun to see him in this latest role. It’s just amazing to watch the scary and the funny come gushing out of Mr. Mott!
By the way, there are two good pages for Mr. Frain on Facebook. The one you note in your post and another “Facebook Fans of James Frain.”
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=73421314640)
Isn’t it fun to share the love? Many thanks Celebitchy!
So does anyone know if his character will be sticking around for Season 4? Do I have to start a petition with HBO and Alan Ball to keep him on the show?
And thanks to CB for obliging my “I want a Franklin post” request…it was awesome and I felt the love 🙂 so many positive comments about Vampire Cromwell…loves it!
I think he is by far the best thing on True Blood this season, he steals every scene he’s in! Just brilliant. Tara character is bearable now he is around so I hope they keep him.
He looked pretty good in The Count of Monte Cristo, but he looks awful now. He looks like he has a terminal disease or something.
I hope Tara kills him. Seriously, its time for the woman to adjust her ovaries and beat some butt. I really do enjoy the Mott character in his creepy/cool/seriously messed up way but still. Enough is enough with the “Tara as a victim” script.
I’m not attracted to him, but he is a great actor.
Damn. Totally forgot that he’s on True Blood these days. And didn’t know that he has a thing with Tara. Need to get up on that.
Love James Frain. Been a fan since “Sunshine” and “What Rats Won’t Do” circa late 90s – a leftover from my old Anglophile days. I would take him any day over someone more conventionally attractive.
On face value , he is not that good looking, but he imbues so much charisma, that you cannot help but be drawn to him. And whenever he’s in a show, you cannot help take notice. Give me a James Frain anyday over any pretty boy actors, except for Henry Cavill
at Lia, its the lack of curls. James is really cute in Count of Monte Cristo, What Rats Won’t Do and Macbeth on the Estate
I love Franklin; he and Tara are a good couple.
He is disgusting to me.
HE IS SO HOT( BUT NOT LIKE THE FRESH ONES)EVENT THOUGH HE IS ON HIS 40’S HE STILL HAS THAT THING THAT MAKES GIRLS INCLUDING ME WHAT TO SNOG HIS HIS FACE OFF HIS HEAD( JUST KIDDING)HE LOOKS BETTER IF HE SHAVED HIS BEARD EVEN IF ITS JUST SHORT.STILL HE IS EVILY HOT HE IS MY TYPE OF CRAZY GUY THAT I WOULD ALLOW TO BE LAID IN BED WITH BUT NOT TIED UP.IF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE CRAZY IF YOU LIKE HIM THEN I’LL BE CRAZY ALL YOU WANT.
Can’t believe no one here mentioned he was also the Spanish Ambassador in “Elizabeth”.
All that Tudors watching, and you guys don’t remember?
Even with the funny hair – swoonage. Count me in the “yes” category. 🙂
I’ve been trying to stay away from TB. Le sigh.
Thank you for the post?
I meant “thank you for the post” with an exclamation point.
Still recovering from SB.
James Frain. What can I say about this amazingly talented and strangely sexy man?
Put it this way. To all the haters out there (and yes, you’re entitled), I am a very teenage girl with a very teenage boyfriend. I’m 14, and I have absolutely never had a thing for what is considered “hot” guys. The muscled up ones and all, they really gross me out.
I myself am an actor, and, without seeming to boast here, I am told that I have heaps of talent. And my choosing of actors to be in the top 5 or 6 IMO is very selective. James Frain is near the top.
I first saw him in The Tudor’s, and I was shocked how much he reminded me of an elf. He was also brilliant. Absolutely fantastic. My mum, (who is also an absolutely fantastic actor), said he was absolutely great. (YAY!) As I watched The Tudor’s more, I fell in love with him.
I looked up True Blood and pissed myself laughing. He is an amazing actor who has the ability to fantastic accents and characterisation. He’s up there with the best of the lot.
I have looked up many of his movies and appearances on television shows on the net, and have become quite obsessed.
His acting is one thing, but his looks are quite another!! He is very, very interesting looking, very striking, honest, and quite obviously a lovely guy. He’s got beautiful cheekbones, and beautiful hair. He’s got what’s called “cats eyes”, which means his eyes change very dramatically with the light. He’s slim and tall, both of which are attractive.
Many of you are saying he’s too thin. Well I like him thin, it suits him. He’s built almost like a doll, almost delicate. Elf would actually be the best way to describe him.
He is healthy, that is obvious. I think if he put on much weight, he would start to look yuckky. But hey, that’s just me.
As for shaving, he looks amazing both ways. And his ears. Oh they are the cutest things ever!
I know this is a very long comment, but I love this guy, and he is an amazing actor, as well as being gorgeous. I know he’s not what is considered conventionally handsome or hot, but he is striking and gorgeous. And SEXY!
Your post is awesome!
Alex 😀