In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, George Clooney said he’s trying to follow in the footsteps of a Hollywood legend. “I’ve been trying to go the route Paul Newman did — ‘Okay, well, I’m not kissing a girl anymore,’” Clooney said. If he means that he’s giving up his heartthrob status as a romantic lead, as many outlets are reporting, his phrasing is oddly specific.
Actor George Clooney sits for an interview – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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Would the 64-year-old actor be open to kissing women closer to his own age — or men? Clooney failed to specify what he has in mind for the next phase of his career. He did, however, admit that aging is inevitable.
The Reality of Aging
“When I turned 60, I had a conversation with my wife,” Clooney told the Daily Mail. “I said, ‘Look, I can still play basketball with the boys. I play with 25-year-old guys. I can still hang, I’m in shape. But in 25 years, I’m 85 years old. It doesn’t matter how many granola bars you eat, that’s a real number.'”
Clooney, long considered one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, married Amal Alamuddin in 2014 when he was 53 years old. He’s 17 years her senior, so the age of the girls he might still be willing to kiss on camera could conceivably cover a wide age range.
Over the years, Clooney’s on-screen romances have included performances with Michelle Pfeiffer (One Fine Day), Jennifer Lopez (Out of Sight), Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), and most recently Julia Roberts (Ticket to Paradise).
Actor George Clooney sits for an interview – YouTube, Late Night With Seth Meyers
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All joking aside, it’s more likely that Clooney is ready to pass the romantic lead baton to the next generation of actors. Variety reported that in March of this year Clooney told 60 Minutes, “Look, I’m 63 years old. I’m not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men,” he said. “That’s not my job. I’m not doing romantic films anymore.”
But if Clooney isn’t doing it, which younger Hollywood star will take over girl-kissing duties? Perhaps the task will fall to a more versatile actor like Glen Powell, who is building his career in multiple genres. As the industry has moved away from the mid-budget romantic dramas that Clooney used to make, it may not so much be the case that he’s aged out of the type — but that there’s simply less demand.
Should Clooney follow the Newman route for his final act, he will likely take on more elder statesman roles. In his later years, Newman gave some powerhouse performances in films like The Verdict. It was a career transition that Newman himself seemed to relish.
The Newman Route
Shortly before his 70th birthday in 1995, Newman sat down for an interview with The Spokesman-Review. “I always think of stardom as a function of youth. And my age is catching up with me. Because if my success was based upon youth and appearance, then at some point producers are going to have to sit up and take notice that my age is something they will not be able to disregard.”
George Clooney in the Jay Kelly trailer – YouTube, Netflix
Clooney also seems to be acknowledging his age on screen. In his latest film, Jay Kelly, he plays a movie star reflecting on his life and career. Whether or not audiences will see him kissing any more girls — or anyone else — in future projects is ultimately irrelevant. As long as there are movies, moviegoers will want to see young people falling in love.
How do you feel about Clooney saying he isn’t kissing girls any more? Let us know in the comments!
