George Clooney opens up about first encounter with Paul Newman: “He had no idea who I was”
George Clooney has shared the key advice he received the very first time he met Paul Newman.
Clooney’s latest picture, the Noah Baumbach movie Jay Kelly, sees the seasoned star take on the titular role, playing a famous movie actor who goes on a European road trip with his manager, played by Adam Sandler, to confront his past and personal life.
Speaking to the New York Times about his experience of fame, Clooney was asked whether he successfully balances his public and private life, or if he found fame took a toll on how much he left the house.
Sandler was confident in his ability to still participate in the world. He shared, “I like jumping out there. Even when they say, “Do you want a car to take you to the premiere?” I always just say, “Let me drive myself.” Sometimes it gets too overwhelming, but that’s my instinct.”
However, Clooney appeared less confident on the matter. He stated, “I’m not as good at getting out as you are. I have a tendency to go, “If I go out, that’s going to be an extra hour of talking to people.””
The star then revealed that this was a familiar topic, one he had spoken about with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid actor Paul Newman.
Clooney reminisced, “When I first met him, he was at Warner Bros. doing Message in a Bottle and I was on ER. Newman was sitting outside smoking a cigarette, so I pulled up in the golf cart and was like, ‘Hey, just wanted to say hi.’
The Hollywood star continued, “He had no idea who I was, but everybody who came by on golf carts was like, ‘Hey, George.’ ‘George!’ So bit by bit, he figured out I was successful in the industry in some way.”
Continuing with the story, the Ocean’s actor added, “Then he goes, “George, don’t let them keep you at home.” He meant very specifically that tendency to isolate because you’re trying to hold onto some privacy.”
The words of advice helped Clooney massively. He confessed, “My tendency at that moment was to stay in, and hearing Newman say that, it made sense immediately.”
Jay Kelly is in cinemas now.
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