In his latest role, George Clooney portrays a movie star grappling with profound regret. But the Hollywood icon is quick to draw a line between himself and his on-screen counterpart. The new Netflix film, 'Jay Kelly', sees the 64-year-old actor play a celebrated star who realises his pursuit of greatness has cost him a real life.
A Role That Resonates
Clooney revealed he was immediately drawn to the project when writer-director Noah Baumbach approached him. "I was predisposed to want to do it before I even read it," Clooney told The Associated Press. He admitted that compelling roles become scarcer with age, making Baumbach's offer particularly enticing.
He wasn't alone in his enthusiasm. A stellar cast including Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup also signed on to the project largely on the strength of Baumbach's reputation, forged by films like 'Marriage Story'. The film, co-written with Emily Mortimer, offers a clear-eyed yet affectionate look at the Hollywood machine and the people who populate it.
The Price of Fame and the Gift of Failure
Clooney's understanding of fame's pitfalls was shaped early by watching his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney. "She got her fame at 16, and it was big," he recalled. He observed how believing the hype left her unprepared when her career evolved, a crucial lesson in the industry's fickleness.
For Clooney, who found major success in his 30s with 'ER', failure was an equally vital teacher. "You can't be an actor and not fail," he stated, emphasising that the risk of humiliation is what makes eventual success so rewarding.
In the film, Jay Kelly is prompted to re-evaluate his life after a personal loss and a chance encounter. He tracks down his estranged daughter in Europe under a flimsy pretext, leaving his management team, played by Sandler and Dern, in disarray.
The Real People Behind the Star
Sandler and Dern, both veterans of Baumbach's work, drew from their own long-term relationships with agents and publicists to prepare for their roles. Sandler recounted watching his own agent multitask with alarming efficiency, while Dern reflected on her publicist essentially helping to raise her since she was a teenager.
The production prompted cast members to recall the mentors who shaped their careers. Dern and Baumbach cited director Peter Bogdanovich, while Sandler remembered pivotal advice from Dustin Hoffman after 'Billy Madison' was released. "He said, 'all the advice I can give you is meet three great filmmakers who wanna work with you'," Sandler shared.
For Clooney, the late television legend Norman Lear provided enduring wisdom: that no one on their deathbed wishes they had worked more, only that they had spent more time with loved ones. "I've always taken that to heart," Clooney affirmed.
A Poignant Montage and a Lucky Life
One of the film's most powerful moments arrived unexpectedly for Clooney. Baumbach created a career montage for Jay Kelly's tribute scene using footage from Clooney's own real filmography. Watching it for the first time during filming, Clooney was overcome, instinctively grabbing Sandler's hand—a genuine moment that made it into the final cut and onto the poster.
"We spent a lot of time that morning making sure all the technical stuff was gonna work," Baumbach said. "When George came, I just told him 'I'm gonna show you this reel and I just want you to watch it.'"
Reflecting on the experience and his career, Clooney distanced himself from a line in the film: 'all my memories are movies.' For him, the memories are of the experiences, not the scenes themselves. His final thought on a life spent in the spotlight was one of gratitude: "What a lucky life I've lived."
'Jay Kelly' began streaming on Netflix on Friday, 5 December 2025.
