George Clooney took the stage at the Venice Film Festival’s masterclass session on Wednesday, delivering a characteristically charming and candid hour that touched on his family life, his career, and his unfiltered views on the current American political landscape. The actor-director, in town for the festival’s ongoing events, was in a visibly jovial mood, using the forum to heap praise on his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, while also taking a sharp jab at former President Donald Trump.
The 65-year-old actor, who has long been a vocal figure in Democratic politics, didn’t hold back when the conversation turned to the upcoming election cycle. Calling the prospect of another Trump presidency a grim thought, Clooney punctuated his remarks with the kind of dry humor that has become his trademark at such gatherings. He suggested that the former president’s return to the White House would be a step backward for the nation, drawing a mixture of applause and laughter from the assembled audience in the Sala Grande.
Yet the most effusive segment of the afternoon was reserved for Amal, a prominent international law expert who has carved out a formidable reputation for her work on high-profile cases. Clooney, who married Amal in 2014, grew visibly animated as he described her as a “badass,” a phrase he used with unmistakable admiration. He recounted a recent anecdote about their home life, noting that her fearless approach to global diplomacy stands in sharp contrast to his own more laid-back demeanor. “She walks into rooms where presidents and dictators sit, and she doesn’t blink,” he said, according to those present. “Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how to fix the espresso machine.”
The actor’s affection for his wife was a recurring theme, and he framed their partnership as one of constant learning and grounding. He acknowledged that his own celebrity status, which once defined his public existence, has been thoroughly eclipsed by her professional achievements. “You know you’ve married well when people stop asking about your latest film and start asking what she thinks about international law,” he joked, drawing knowing laughter from the crowd. He also credited Amal with keeping their two children, twins Ella and Alexander, firmly rooted despite the unusual pressures of growing up with famous parents.
Clooney’s remarks arrive during a particularly busy festival season for the star, who has been promoting his latest directorial effort, a film centered on the making of a classic television program. The movie, which has drawn strong early buzz from critics in Venice, reunites him with a longtime collaborator and explores the tensions of creative production behind the scenes. While he avoided deep spoilers during the masterclass, he did reflect on the challenges of directing actors who are larger-than-life personalities in their own right, a task he compared to herding cats. He noted that his years in front of the camera have given him a unique empathy for the performers he now guides from the director’s chair.
This is not the first time Clooney has used a public platform to criticize Trump. He has repeatedly referred to the former president as a dangerous figure and has actively campaigned for Democratic candidates over the years. Yet the tone on Wednesday was less overtly partisan and more personal, as he tied his anxieties about the nation’s trajectory directly to the future his children will inherit. He spoke about having difficult conversations at the dinner table regarding civic duty and the importance of truth, adding that he feels a responsibility to model the values he hopes his kids will emulate. The room listened with a degree of reverence that underscored Clooney’s unique standing in Hollywood - a figure who has managed to balance blockbuster stardom with serious advocacy work for decades.
The masterclass itself, a staple of the Venice program, is designed to offer insight into the craft of filmmaking. But Clooney, as ever, steered the conversation toward the human elements that define a life in the public eye. He reflected fondly on his early days in the industry, recalling the scrappy years as a television actor before ER made him a household name. He also offered advice to the younger filmmakers in attendance, urging them to prioritize storytelling over spectacle. “The technology changes, but a good script will always be the foundation,” he said. “And a good partner will always be the reason you get out of bed in the morning.”
His closing remarks looped back to Amal, with Clooney visibly softening as he described their morning routine of reading the newspaper together and bickering over the crossword puzzle. He admitted that his wife still beats him at Scrabble in two languages, a small admission that drew an affectionate sigh from the audience. As he left the stage to a standing ovation, it was clear that the interview had offered a rare glimpse into the private world of a man who, despite his decades in the spotlight, remains most engaged when talking about the woman he calls his hero.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter