James Franco and Girlfriend Izabel Pakzad: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

Hollywood is weird. One minute you’re an Oscar nominee everywhere you look, and the next, you’re basically a ghost in the industry. For James Franco, that transition wasn’t exactly subtle. But through the lawsuits, the "canceled" labels, and the self-imposed exile from the A-list, there has been one constant presence by his side.

Honestly, most people didn't think they’d last.

James Franco and girlfriend Izabel Pakzad have been together since 2017. That is a lifetime in celebrity years. If you’re doing the math, they’ve stayed solid through a nearly decade-long rollercoaster that would have shredded most relationships. It's not just about red carpets and fancy dinners at Giorgio Baldi anymore. It’s about a massive shift in how Franco actually lives his life.

The Relationship That Survived the Storm

When they first started dating, Izabel was a 21-year-old graduate student at USC. James was 39. People talked. Of course they did. The age gap was the first thing everyone latched onto, but then the real trouble started. Just months into their romance, the 2018 sexual misconduct allegations against Franco hit the headlines.

He didn't hide, but he did pull back. And Izabel stayed.

She didn't just stay for the good parts. She was there when he paid out a $2.2 million settlement in 2021 to former students of his acting school. She was there when he went on The Jess Cagle Podcast and admitted he had struggled with sex addiction for years.

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It’s easy to be a girlfriend when someone is winning a Golden Globe for The Disaster Artist. It is a lot harder when they are being publicly deconstructed.

Why James Franco and Girlfriend Izabel Pakzad are Still Together

Franco has been pretty blunt about his past. He admitted to being a "selfish, self-centered boyfriend" in his previous relationships. There’s that famous, kinda depressing story he told Variety about an ex-girlfriend who got scratched in the eye by his cat. Instead of taking her to the hospital himself, he sent his assistant because he had "too much work to do."

That’s the old James.

With Izabel, things changed. He actually took her to the ER himself when she had a throat issue early in their dating life. Small bar to clear? Maybe. But for him, it was a breakthrough. He even claimed in 2021 that this is the first relationship where he hasn't cheated.

Who is Izabel Pakzad?

She’s not just "the girlfriend." That’s a label she’s clearly been working to outrun. While the media focuses on her partner, Pakzad has been quietly building a career that doesn't rely on him.

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• Education: She’s a heavy hitter academically, with degrees from Penn State and USC.
• Directing: Her debut feature film, Find Your Friends, actually premiered recently at the Torino Film Festival.
• Acting: You might have spotted her in Birds of Prey or the series The Deuce.

She's an actress and a director. When they met, Franco actually had a "no actresses" rule on his mental dating checklist. He wanted someone outside the bubble. Ironically, he didn't realize she was taking acting classes until they were already deep in it. It worked out anyway because they ended up bonding over the craft instead of competing.

A Rare Glimpse into Their Private Life

They aren't the type to post every meal on Instagram. You won't see them doing "Get Ready With Me" videos. Usually, we only see them when they’re spotted grabbing ice cream in Venice Beach or walking through Paris after a late dinner at Costes.

Even his family seems to have fully embraced her. His mom, Betsy Franco, occasionally posts photos of the couple on her own social media. They even showed up in Croatia together for a family wedding in late 2024. When the "potential mother-in-law" is posting you on the grid, you know it’s serious.

The 2026 Status: Are They Still Together?

Yes. As of early 2026, James Franco and girlfriend Izabel Pakzad are still very much an item.

There was some weird internet rumor back in late 2025 that they had split, mostly because they hadn't been seen in public for a few months. That happens when people actually have jobs. But they shut that down by appearing together at the Torino Film Festival in November 2025 to support her film.

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He looked casual in a navy sweatsuit and an overcoat. She looked like the professional director she is. They looked... normal.

What’s Next for the Couple?

Franco is slowly dipping his toes back into the acting world with projects like Hey Joe and The Razor’s Edge. He’s not the "it boy" anymore, and he seems fine with that. He’s 47 now. He’s got salt-and-pepper hair and a much more subdued vibe.

Izabel is just getting started. Find Your Friends was inspired by a "crazy experience" she had in the desert, and the buzz around her directing is legit.

They aren't in a rush to get married. Sources close to them have said for years that they are just "enjoying the moment." After nearly nine years, the "moment" has turned into a decade.

Actionable Insights for Following the Story

If you're trying to keep up with the latest on James and Izabel, don't look for them in the tabloids. They don't play that game.

1. Follow the Festivals: They almost exclusively appear at film festivals (Cannes, Lyon, Torino) rather than Hollywood parties.
2. Check the Credits: Watch for Izabel’s name in directing credits; she’s moving behind the camera more frequently.
3. Ignore the "Split" Clickbait: Unless there’s a formal statement or they stop appearing at each other's career milestones, they are likely just staying private.

The reality is that James Franco and girlfriend Izabel Pakzad represent a very different kind of Hollywood couple—one that survived the peak of the #MeToo era and the total collapse of a career, only to come out the other side remarkably stable. Whether you like Franco or not, the longevity of this relationship is, honestly, one of the most surprising things about his "second act."