George Clooney has pushed back against critics who think he lacks any sort of range in his acting career.
The Hollywood superstar, 64, rose to fame playing Dr. Doug Ross on the medical drama ER from 1994 until 1999.
In the years since he’s starred in films including From Dusk till Dawn, the Ocean’s franchise, and The Descendants.
Over his career Clooney has picked up numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award and four Golden Globe Awards, as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.
However, he’s now responded to those who question his ability as an actor.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair to promote his upcoming film Jay Kelly, Clooney spoke about his co-star Adam Sandler being a ‘beautiful, heartfelt and soulful actor’.
‘I kept telling the cast, “Don’t call him Sand Man. Don’t talk to him like he’s just some goofy comedian. He’s actually a really beautiful, wonderful actor”. Because of what his pay check is, which is doing big goofy comedies, when he does these other, beautiful, Uncut Gems kinds of movies, it reminds people of that. He’s not just a good comedian,’ he said.
The actor was then asked about people who criticise his own versatility, with the actor not mincing his words.
‘Do people say that I only play myself? I don’t give a s***,’ he said. There aren’t that many guys in my age group that are allowed to do both broad comedies like O Brother [Where Art Though?] and then do Michael Clayton or Syriana. So, if that means I’m playing myself all the time, I don’t give a s***,’ he said.
He went on: ‘I’ve been the beneficiary of having my career not be massively successful in lots of different directions. I didn’t really get successful, in the kind of success that can be blinding, until I was 33 years old [when ER began]. 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.’
Clooney won the Oscar for best supporting actor for playing a CIA officer in Syriana and was also nominated for best actor for roles in Michael Clayton, Up in the Air and The Descendants.
Over the years he’s also stepped behind the camera and has directed nine feature films including Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, The Monuments Men and The Tender Bar starring Ben Affleck.
He also received the Academy Award for best picture for co-producing the 2012 film Argo and was nominated for a Tony for playing Edward R. Murrow in the play adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway.
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