James Franco raves about Stewart's Snow White in online essay

James Franco has written an online essay confessing his admiration for the work of Twilight star Kristen Stewart.

The studious 127 Hours star was so blown away by Stewart and co-star Charlize Theron's new movie Snow White & The Huntsman he took to The Huffington Post blog to rave about the performances.

He wrote, "Some might argue that Stewart - or any young upstart buoyed by the surge of a successful franchise, album, or internet meme - is just as unjustly charmed. Some could say she had a lucky break when she was cast in Twilight and then rose to international stardom based less on her own skills than on the success of the project.

"But, whereas Snow White would more than likely be inarticulate, diseased and frail after being confined in a tower for 10 years, Kristen Stewart landed Twilight after years of working with some of the best directors in the business (David Fincher, Sean Penn). She actually does deserve the crown."

He continued, "The images of Snow White as a leader of immense strength, charging on horseback across the beach at the head of an army, has less to do with her character and more to do with the actress who plays her."

It seems Franco also admires the way the 22-year-old actress copes with life in the glare of the spotlight as one of the world's most famous young stars: "Stewart has braved more scrutiny of her private life than most presidents. She has taken big career risks by doing films like Welcome to the Rileys, The Runaways and On the Road (nudity, I hear)... Whatever Snow White may be, Kristen is a warrior queen. Give her the crown."