The actor George Clooney admitted he was jealous of: “Let’s face it, we all are”
Even the most successful actors in the business can find themselves turning green with envy on occasion, which does at least ensure people like George Clooney will never lose their competitive edge despite everything they’ve achieved in their own careers.
Batman & Robin aside, the multitalented performer, producer, filmmaker, humanitarian, and philanthropist has become accustomed to nothing but wins in all walks of life for the last three decades. He’s been there, done it, and gotten most of the T-shirts, but he isn’t above the odd pang of jealousy.
There aren’t many folks in Hollywood with a list of accolades even remotely comparable to Clooney’s, with his versatility displayed by two Academy Award wins from eight nominations split across six different categories, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
A talented and dynamic performer with charisma and charm for days, Clooney possesses the ideal blend of looks, ability, and power that have made him a formidable force. He’s won a Bafta from nine nods, been shortlisted for three Primetime Emmys, scooped five Golden Globes from 14 nominations, and he also happens to be very handsome and incredibly wealthy, so what’s he got to be jealous about?
It’s a who more than a what, in fairness, but like many others in his profession, he wishes he was more like Daniel Day-Lewis. “I’m jealous of Daniel. Let’s face it, we all are,” he told the New Yorker. “I’m jealous of the ability to completely immerse yourself. Because it means you’re willing to not be liked for a period of time. Not just on film, perhaps. It’s part of the acting thing, is you sort of want to be liked.”
Clooney might be a very good actor, but he’s not a method one. He’s become so famous that he’s developed a persona whether he wanted to or not, whereas Day-Lewis made his name on abandoning the notion of living a normal life in favour of dedicating himself to becoming his character for months on end.
That being said, he doesn’t subscribe entirely to the madness of the method. “I like a guy who says, ‘I’m probably not that actor’, the actor lost in the role,” he explained. “I find myself often feeling those sort of same sentiments, so it’s funny to hear someone else say it.”
He’ll always give his best to any part he plays, but Clooney has never been the type to remain in character during his preparations and rehearsals before existing as the figure he’s inhabiting from the first to last day of shooting. Day-Lewis was a master at it, although it’s not for everyone.
Clooney might have given it a shot if he thought he was capable, but as he admitted, there’s always going to be a part of him that wants to be liked.
