James Franco and his girlfriend have split after five years together, the Spider-Man actor has confirmed.

The Oscar-nominated 127 Hours actor says Ahna O'Reilly got fed up when he decided to study at Yale University.

He reportedly told Playboy magazine: "It's over. It lasted about four or five years.

"We'd been living together in LA and then came to New York to go to school for two years.

"Then I signed up for more school at Yale. I think that was it for her."

The 33-year-old actor is studying for a PhD in English at the prestigious US university.

Ahna, 26, who James started dating in 2006, has appeared as Leslie in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

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