March 24, 2025: Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney has shared his thoughts on the evolution of his career and his readiness to move away from his days as a romantic lead. At 63, Clooney acknowledged that he is no longer in competition with younger actors, saying, “I’m not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men.” He added, “That’s not my job. I’m not doing romantic films anymore.”
This decision marks a shift from his earlier work, as Clooney pointed out that he hasn’t done a romantic comedy since 1996. Instead, he is gravitating towards more mature roles that reflect his growth as an actor.
One such role is his upcoming portrayal of newsman Edward R. Murrow in the Broadway adaptation of his Oscar-nominated film Good Night, and Good Luck. Clooney, who directed the film in 2005, felt he wasn’t ready to play Murrow at that time. “Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I didn’t — I wasn’t able to pull off,” he explained. Now, with age and experience, Clooney feels prepared to embody Murrow on stage.
Clooney expressed his excitement about making his Broadway debut, saying he didn’t believe he had done the necessary work to perform at that level earlier in his career.
He also reflected on the example set by Paul Newman, who successfully transitioned from a leading man to a character actor. Clooney cited Newman’s role in The Verdict as a turning point, noting that Newman embraced his new identity as a character actor without trying to cling to youthful expectations. “He just said, ‘Okay, that’s who I am now,’ and he changed expectations a little bit,” Clooney observed.