George Clooney has dismissed criticism that he lacks versatility as an actor, saying he 'doesn't give a s***' what detractors think. The 64-year-old Hollywood star was responding to comments from Hunter Biden, son of former US president Joe Biden, who suggested Clooney merely plays himself in his roles.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Clooney defended his range, pointing to his work across broad comedies and serious dramas. '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,' he said. 'So if that means I'm playing myself all the time, I don't give a s***.'
The Oscar-winning actor, who took home the best supporting actor prize for Syriana, then quoted a line from his forthcoming film, Jay Kelly: 'Have you ever tried playing yourself? It's hard to do.' He also reflected on his career trajectory, noting that he did not achieve major success until the age of 33, having already worked as an actor for 12 years.
'I've been the beneficiary of having my career not be massively successful in lots of different directions,' Clooney explained. 'I didn't really get successful, in the kind of success that can be blinding, until I was 33 years old. 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.'
Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach, premieres at the Venice Film Festival later this month. The film stars Clooney as a famous actor travelling through Europe with his longtime manager, played by Adam Sandler. In other recent public moves, Clooney wrote a widely discussed New York Times op-ed in July 2024 urging Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
