Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney has revealed that he is stepping away from romantic roles, declaring he will no longer be “kissing girls” in films.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Clooney explained that the decision came after a conversation with his wife, Amal Clooney, about aging and career choices. “I’ve been trying to go the route Paul Newman did — ‘Okay, well, I’m not kissing a girl anymore,’” he said.
Reflecting on his age, Clooney added: “When I turned 60, I had a conversation with my wife. 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 built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic leads, starring in films such as “One Fine Day” with Michelle Pfeiffer, “Out of Sight” with Jennifer Lopez, “Up in the Air” with Vera Farmiga, and “Ticket to Paradise” with Julia Roberts.
The “Ocean’s Eleven” star has hinted at this decision for some time. In a March interview with 60 Minutes, he said he was stepping aside from romantic films to make room for younger leading men. “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,” he explained.
Clooney also reflected on an early career challenge in a 2022 interview with the New York Times, recalling a director’s critique of his kissing technique. “I remember early on in my career, I had to do a kissing scene with this girl and the director goes, ‘Not like that.’ And I was like, ‘Dude, that’s my move! That’s what I do in real life!’”
With this move, Clooney is embracing a new phase in his career, focusing on roles that don’t require romantic entanglements, while maintaining the charm and charisma that have made him a Hollywood icon
