At the premiere of the animated movie Hoppers, actor Dave Franco opened up about his teenage years, revealing he was a shy and awkward kid. The 40-year-old Hollywood star, known for roles in films like Neighbors and Now You See Me, shared these insights during a conversation with Entertainment Tonight.
When asked to sum up his teenage personality in three words, Franco said,
“Oh, It was a long time ago… I was shy, awkward and anxious”
, highlighting his uneasy nature as a youth.
An Embarrassing Teenage Crush Tale
Franco also recounted a particularly embarrassing moment from his teen years that perfectly matched those three descriptors. Instead of directly talking to a girl he liked, he chose a more unusual approach. He bought her a bag of candy, then took a running start and threw it toward her while she sat with friends under a tree, before sprinting away.
He admitted,
“I had a crush on this girl. Instead of going to talk to her, I bought her a bag of candy, I saw her sitting under this tree with all her friends, and I took a running start and I threw the bag of candy and then I kept sprinting away.”
Gaining Confidence and Success in Adulthood
Despite his teenage awkwardness, Franco revealed that he later grew out of his shell, demonstrating this change by attending the premiere with his wife, Alison Brie, as his plus one. On this, he remarked,
“I got a good plus one… I came out of my shell a little bit.”
Currently busy promoting Hoppers, Franco voices the character Titus in the upcoming comedy sci-fi animated film. Other notable voice roles include Piper Curda as Mabel and Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry.
Significance of Franco’s Story and Upcoming Projects
Dave Franco’s candid sharing of his teenage insecurities offers a relatable glimpse into the vulnerability behind a confident public figure. His willingness to discuss these past social anxieties resonates particularly with audiences who have faced similar struggles. Meanwhile, his involvement as the voice of Titus in Hoppers reflects his expanding career into animation, and the film’s premiere marks an important step in its promotion.
