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George Clooney looked back to the formative years of his career and how his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, had influenced his perception of fame and success. In an interview with PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie, Jay Kelly, the 64-year-old actor, said his initial job in Hollywood left him with lessons he would never forget.
“I felt very lucky that I got that lesson early in time,” Clooney said, remembering his early years before fame found him.
Clooney was even the driver for his aunt Rosemary long before he became a Hollywood movie star. It was then that he encountered various celebrities in the music industry and understood what real-life success and failure would be.
Exposure to show business at a tender age helped him develop a realistic perspective on the entertainment world. These experiences, he said, provided him with insight into approaching recognition and rejection. In retrospect, Clooney assumes that these lessons influenced how he treated fame and the relationships in his career.
Driving Rosemary Clooney and the stars of her era
“I remember being on the road [...] I was my Aunt Rosemary's driver when she was singing,” he said.
During that year, Clooney drove his aunt and other performers, including Tony Bennett, to their shows and events.
“I got to drive [her] and Tony Bennett, and all of these really wonderful singers around for a year,” he shared.
The job provided him with firsthand experience of what life as an artist is like and the highs and lows that accompany success. He confessed that he was not well acquainted with Rosemary when he was young because he was brought up in Kentucky, while she was in California.
Being with her gave him a glimpse of the personal side of fame. It also made him realize that the world of entertainment might be erratic and that one should be humble.
George Clooney's lessons from legends and lasting friendships
George Clooney also recalled a memorable encounter with Frank Sinatra. At the time, George Clooney had supported a movement about press freedoms, and Sinatra wasn’t happy with how it affected him personally.
“I remember he was mad at me once because I led this boycott [...] and he called me going, ‘It's not working what you're doing!’” Clooney said with a laugh. “But he was great. I got yelled at by Frank Sinatra!”
The actor said that being surrounded by stars early on helped him see how they managed fame and how they dealt with challenges. These early interactions showed him that success doesn’t always come easily and that how one handles setbacks matters just as much as achievements.
Over the years, George Clooney’s approach to fame has stayed grounded. He credits his long-term friendships for helping him maintain balance.
“Most of my friends [...] we've been friends for 40 years. I slept on their couch when I was broke,” he shared.
He added that these friends are the ones who remind him to stay humble.
“They're the first people to remind you that they're full of crap. It's helpful to have people that know you long before you were defined by movies.”
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