George Clooney opens up about transitioning from romantic leads to roles demanding depth, highlighting his upcoming Broadway debut and reflections on career evolution.
- Mar 24, 2025
AceShowbiz - In a candid conversation with "60 Minutes" interviewer Jon Wertheim, George Clooney delved into his evolving career trajectory, mirroring the inevitable passage of time and the wisdom that accompanies it.
At 63, the actor acknowledged the shift from his once-frequent roles as a romantic lead to more profound characters that resonate with his current stage in life. He said, "Look, I'm 63 years old. I'm not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men. That's not my job. I'm not doing romantic films anymore."
Despite this, he sees a silver lining in this natural progression. He contends that age brings certain privileges, including the "gravitas" necessary for more substantial roles.
This gravitas is particularly pertinent as Clooney prepares for a Broadway adaptation of his Oscar-nominated film, "Good Night, and Good Luck." In the upcoming play, Clooney will portray newsman Edward R. Murrow, a role he felt he could not embody successfully at the age of 42 during the film's making in 2005.
"Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I didn't — I wasn't able to pull off," Clooney revealed. Furthermore, he now feels equipped to face the demanding nature of Broadway, believing he previously lacked the necessary dedication.
"I don't know that I could've [done it before]. I wasn't - I didn't do the work required to get there... I mean, there isn't a single actor alive that wouldn't have loved to have, you know, been on Broadway. So that's - that's the fun of it."
Clooney's reflections align with his admiration for Hollywood legend Paul Newman, who adeptly transitioned from romantic leads to character roles without resisting the aging process.
"[Paul] Newman was the best at this," Clooney told the Washington Post in 2022. "He figured out, [with] The Verdict, quite honestly, that he was a character actor and he accepted that role. He didn't fight it or push and try to get his face done or look younger and act younger. He just said, 'Okay, that's who I am now,' and he changed expectations a little bit."
