George Clooney Says His “Lack Of Success” Is Why He Can Choose Certain Roles

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George Clooney is a hugely famous actor, so it’s surprising to hear him say he feels he’s “lacked success.” However, that makes sense when you consider his career path. He first became well-known as a TV star, playing Dr. Doug Ross on the show ER, before achieving fame in movies.

I remember when George Clooney really hit his stride in the early 2000s with those cool Ocean’s Eleven movies. But he didn’t stop there – he kept taking on roles that critics genuinely loved. Some of his best work, in my opinion, includes films like Michael Clayton, The Descendants, and Syriana – he even won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Syriana! Now, he’s back with a new film called Jay Kelly, which is hitting select theaters and streaming on Netflix starting November 14th.

The trailer for Jay Kelly’s new film features the main character, a former movie star, embarking on a life-changing road trip with his manager (Adam Sandler). According to a recent interview with CBS’s Seth Doane, some details about Jay Kelly’s character—like being from Kentucky and being encouraged to run for president—appear to be based on George Clooney’s own life.

Clooney addresses the criticism that he always plays variations of himself. He jokingly points out he’s never actually been a spy or a criminal, but then explains that his moderate level of commercial success has actually allowed him the freedom to take on a wide variety of roles, instead of being typecast.

Check out Clooney’s full comments below:

You know, it’s funny. I’ve never lived a life of espionage or crime, so playing those roles is always a bit of a stretch! But looking back on my career, I think I’ve had a really good run – successful, but not at that ‘blockbuster, billion-dollar franchise’ level. The Ocean’s movies did well, sure, but a lot of my biggest hits, like Michael Clayton, were these smart, well-made films that didn’t require a huge budget. We only spent $12 million on Michael Clayton and it grossed $90 million! Up in the Air and The Descendants were similar. Because those films weren’t massive, I never got typecast. I wasn’t labeled as just a comedy guy or a drama guy. And that freedom allowed me to take risks and do really interesting projects like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Syriana. Honestly, that’s the best part – not being stuck in a rut. In a way, not achieving massive success has been a gift.

Seth Doane: People are gonna have a hard time hearing that line.

George Clooney explained that when looking at other actors, he feels his career has been successful. He believes he’s fortunate to have opportunities many actors don’t get, because unlike some, he wasn’t immediately typecast after becoming known for a specific genre like action. He sees his success as consistently achieving solid results – ‘hitting doubles’ – rather than relying on one massive hit.

According to data from The Numbers, George Clooney doesn’t rank as high as many might think when it comes to total box office earnings – he’s at No. 76. The top three highest-grossing actors of all time are all stars from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. These actors are also consistently cast in critically acclaimed films that compete during awards season, like Marriage Story and Oppenheimer.

George Clooney has proven himself in many genres, from comedy to drama and action, but some viewers feel his characters often share a similar quality. He’s known for distinctive roles in films like Gravity, The American, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Despite his success, Clooney believes he hasn’t achieved a certain level of creative freedom, which is often a benefit enjoyed by established actors who can leverage their popularity to take on diverse projects.

George Clooney points out that success in Hollywood isn’t always about box office numbers, even for established stars like himself. Despite his fame, some producers might choose other actors if they’re solely focused on big profits. His recent film, Jay Kelly, which was built around Clooney’s presence, might not receive many Oscar nominations, but he continues to have a successful and fulfilling career with plenty of interesting projects to choose from.

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2025-11-03 20:40