George Clooney: the epitome of cool turns 65

Mister Clooney, we are living in difficult times, and as a Hollywood star you don't necessarily lead the easiest life yourself. How have you spent the last few years - apart from making films?

In the same simple way as most of us. Like those who have small children, anyway. I did six kilos of laundry a day, cleaned and did the dishes, as long as our St Bernard wasn't chasing me around the kitchen. And I changed nappies. Not mine, but my children's. Even if the day will come when I wear nappies again myself. When my children stop, I'll start.

How do you manage not to take yourself too seriously, even though you're constantly being pampered?

This has to do with my family history. I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where my father was a well-known television presenter. My aunt Rosemary, on the other hand, was a famous singer. And her life made me realise that status has nothing to do with the person. It's simply a question of luck. The problem with many famous people is that they think they are geniuses. They become stars and say to themselves: "I deserve it all!" – Wrong. You didn't. You were just lucky.

In other words, your own success is also a matter of luck?

You said it. I got a role in the TV series "Emergency Room", and originally it was supposed to be on Friday nights. That would have meant that we might have got mediocre ratings and struggled to survive for a few years. But then it got a slot on Thursday evening, where success was guaranteed. I knew I had made it. I said to my friends: "Now I've got seven years of a TV career under my belt." As a consequence of this success, I was then able to make the kind of films I wanted.

And if luck hadn't been on your side?

I don't know. I would probably have played completely different roles – if there had been any offers. You're only responsible for capitalising on your success. But to do that, you have to realise that the stars were simply aligned in your favour and you can't take it for granted. Then you can enjoy it. I still remember well how my aunt lost her popularity. Did that mean she was a worse singer? – It had nothing to do with her. And that shaped my attitude to life, since then nothing can shake me.

Is that also the reason why everything seems so relaxed and effortless for you?

You only have to look at the job I do. It annoys me when some stars complain about how hard they have it. The essence of acting is that you don't grow up. You decide to leave the rules of professional life behind and just have fun. Yes, sometimes you work 13 or 14 hours at a time, but overall you can consider yourself lucky that you can earn a living from it. I'm also a director, which means you have more responsibility, but it's not that bad compared to other jobs. I once harvested tobacco - that's real work! So people like me shouldn't complain about the hardships of life. Do your job, and do it in a way that feels like it's a piece of cake.

How, for example?

This was many years ago, but there was a rumour that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were getting married at my house on Lake Como. It was in February, which is not exactly the time of year when you feel at home in this area. It was four degrees, raining, and I got the news that hundreds of reporters had gathered outside my property. I decided to take the whole thing to the extreme, ordered 15 large tables and had them set up in the courtyard. And suddenly helicopters were buzzing over the property and filming everything. That must have cost a million. Taking the mickey out of these people is great fun.

On the other hand, you were constantly confronted with the harsh reality of your social work.

I was always travelling to the Third World with my charity organisations. In Chad, for example, or in Congo, where there were always dicey situations. In South Sudan, we were stopped several times by child soldiers with Kalashnikovs. They let us out of the car and took what they wanted from our car. Life in places like that is not worth much. I experienced the ten worst situations of my entire life there and met warlords who can play you really badly if they want to.

These people didn't know you were a Hollywood star

They didn't watch the right TV programmes.

What went through your mind in such situations, when it was a matter of bare survival?

For example: I have a nice house in Italy, what am I doing here? What was I thinking?

And what were you thinking?

I just want to participate in the most diverse aspects of human life and not just enjoy the creamy bits. When you have a certain level of notoriety, you can go to places that the media doesn't normally pay attention to and put them in the spotlight. Apart from donations, of course. In political terms (...)

→ Read the full interview with George Clooney in rampstyle #25.