George Clooney is giving fans a rare peek behind the curtain of his personal life, and it’s as warm as you’d imagine.
The 64-year-old Hollywood star, usually private about his home life, opened up while promoting his new Netflix comedy-drama, Jay Kelly.
Married to human rights lawyer Amal Clooney since 2014, George shares the joys of family life with their twins, Alexander and Ella, now eight years old.
During his chat with the Express, he reflected on the simple pleasures that make him grateful each day, admitting, “I get up in the morning and I’m happy that I go to work; I have a beautiful family that I go home to and we have a very lucky life.
And if you don’t celebrate that, something’s wrong.”
Finding Joy in the Everyday
While the actor rarely shares details of his family life, he couldn’t resist revealing a sweet snippet about his kids.
“All the people that I’ve worked with, they still work with me. And, you know, my kids like me… I mean, they’re eight.
They could change. But at this point they still like me,” he laughed.
George added, “I don’t find any reason to complain about anything about being famous and I don’t find anything I have to complain about.”
His comments paint the picture of a man who balances the demands of stardom with gratitude for his home life.
Contrasting Life With His New Character
In Jay Kelly, George takes on the role of a movie star who “always plays himself,” embarking on a whirlwind European trip alongside Adam Sandler, who plays his manager.
The movie, which also stars Laura Dern, Jim Broadbent, Isla Fisher, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig, explores the hilarity and heartache of middle-aged friendship and the search for youthful spirit.
Reflecting on the differences between his life and his character’s, George admitted, “I don’t really relate to this character because I don’t have anything like the regrets this guy has. I have a very different life than he does.”
A Star-Studded Netflix Project
Directed by Noah Baumbach, with a script co-written by British actress Emily Mortimer, Jay Kelly has already earned recognition, including the Composer Award at the Montclair Film Festival.
The story follows two friends rediscovering themselves during a chaotic weekend reunion filled with comedic misadventures and heartfelt moments.
George’s character, constantly reminding himself he is “Jay Kelly,” reflects a self-awareness about fame that mirrors George’s own thoughtful take on Hollywood life.
Reflecting on a 40-Year Career
With a career spanning over four decades, George Clooney has earned an Academy Award for Syriana and numerous accolades.
Yet he recently addressed critics questioning his acting range with his signature blunt humor.
“Do people say that I only play myself? I don’t give a sh*t,” he said.
He continued, “There aren’t that many guys in my age group that are allowed to do both broad comedies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and then do Michael Clayton or Syriana.
So if that means I’m playing myself all the time, I don’t give a sh*t.”
The Value of Patience and Perspective
George also reflected on the path to success, revealing that fame didn’t come instantly.
“I didn’t really get successful, in the kind of success that can be blinding, until I was 33 years old [when ER began]. I’d been working for 12 years at that point.
I had a real understanding of how fleeting all of it is and how little it has to do with you, quite honestly.”
Whether discussing his family, his career, or the challenges of portraying himself on screen, George Clooney shows that gratitude, humor, and perspective are at the heart of both his life and his craft.