George Clooney Will No Longer Play Romantic Leads: ‘I’m 63, Not Competing With 25-Year-Olds’

George Clooney has made it clear that on-screen romance is no longer part of his acting plans. The Hollywood star recently spoke about age, perspective and changing priorities, revealing that he has consciously decided to step away from romantic roles that involve younger co-stars.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Clooney shared that the decision came after an honest conversation with his wife, Amal Clooney, as he reflected on growing older in an industry obsessed with youth.

He said, “I’ve been trying to go the route Paul Newman did — ‘Okay, well, I’m not kissing a girl anymore.’ 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 further underlined that competing with much younger actors no longer interests him.

He added, “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.”

The actor has previously spoken candidly about romance on screen. In an earlier interaction with The New York Times, Clooney recalled an anecdote from the early days of his career involving a director’s feedback during a kissing scene.

He said, “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!’”

Clooney first rose to fame as a television star on ER before becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men. He successfully transitioned to films with roles in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Ocean’s franchise, later earning critical acclaim for performances in Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air and The Descendants.

He won an Academy Award for Syriana (2005) and received Oscar nominations for Michael Clayton (2007), Up in the Air (2009), and The Descendants (2011). As a filmmaker, he directed and co-wrote Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and won another Academy Award as a producer for Argo (2012).

On the personal front, Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in 2014. The couple welcomed twins in 2017. Over the years, Clooney has earned multiple honours, including two Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected figures — even as he redefines what roles he wants to take on next.