George Clooney "I won't suffer for love anymore"

source: Italian CHI magazine, No. 27, 04. July 2001

«After the ended marriage, I have decided that the friendship is better: it lasts more», tells the American star in this interview for "Chi".

«I come with a kind of "mission " to your Country to promote the cardiology help on two wheels». The star is attended to Miss Italia. Los Angeles - June Questions of heart.

The fascinating star of Hollywood George Clooney,who turned 40 the last 6th May, has earned 40 billion dollars for movies so far, shot 35 films,and is now in Italy for a special mission.

The American star, the beloved "physician in first line" of the TV series "E.R.", is the protagonist of an advertising campaign conceived and realized by the "Running Heart Foundation" for the rapid cardiology help.

On board of a BMW C1 motorcycle equipped for an immediate cardiologyc help (with defibrillatore we question??? and with the medicines for the first intervention) the actor has been invited in Milan, Italy to deliver the keys of the motorbike in the hands of professor Massimo Santini, primary of the cardiovascular Department of the hospital St. Phillip Neri in Rome, to the presence of the Minister of the Health Girolamo Sirchia, of the vice-mayor Riccardo De Corato and of Tiziana Maiolo, of the Milan municipality (Social services).

This project is realized by the "Running Heart Foundation", created by the entrepreneur Franco Malenotti, and presided by professor Alberto Cremonesi. «A motorbike that can save a life is a genial idea», George Clooney tells in this interview to "Chi".

«I have accepted with great pleasure to serve as testimonial of the Running Heart campaign, and also to give some technical suggestion from biker with a more twenty-year experience», the actor continues, more in shape and fascinating that ever, elected by the American magazine "People" as the man that the female public would like to receive to the door as unexpected surprise, and that some not confirmed voices would like father within the end of the year (the mother would be the English model Lisa Snowdon).

Certainly, George Clooney, that the organizers of the next edition of Miss Italia hope to have among the guests, has just finished the resumptions of his film "Ocean's Eleven" (remake of "Big Hit ", 1960) of which he is producer and protagonist (on the Italian screens for Christmas).

Chi: Do you tell us of your pledge with Running Heart?

GC: I am proud to be testimonial of this project. To arrive in time and to save a life, beating the impossible traffic of the great Italian cities thanks to the speed of this help on two wheels, it's a great idea.

Chi: You are also a passionate biker.

GC: Yes. My passion for the motorbikes was born 25 years ago. I own 7 of them. I never get tired to get off it and to reassemble it. I don't like the run motorbikes very much, it isn't my style. Instead, I like those motorbikes that give you the impression to travel on a Cadillac.

Chi: You are planning a vacation in motorbike, with friends, in Italy?

GC: Yes. I adore Italy, it is my preferred country. After the presentation of this campaign I am thinking to grant me a beautiful vacation and to make a beautiful turn in motorbike in the peninsula.

Chi: You have finished from a little time the shots of his film "Ocean's Eleven", directed by Steven Soderbergh.

GC: Yes. It has been an incredible experience. All the actors, from Julia Roberts to Brad Pitt, to Matt Damon, have been available at the most. The shots have hocked the cast for more than 5 months, but there have been never a moment lived as hard job. The atmosphere was of agreement and fun. It should always be so when a movie is made, instead it's very rare that this happens. Many people take their role too seriously.

Chi: You have said that one of the most important things in his career of actor is to work with the right people. Have you found them?

GC: Today I have the fortune of being able to choose the people with which to work. I think about directors as David O. Russell, who has directed me in "Three Kings", as Soderbergh, with whom I have also shot "Out of Sight", and with whom I have 3 other projects already, as Steven Spielberg, or as the Coen brothers.

Chi: By the way, you have won the Golden Globe 2001 as protagonist of the Coen Brothers movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?".

GC: This prize has been a moment of great joy and fun. But the thing more important to me has been to make that movie, an important footstep in my career, more than to win a prestigious official recognition.

Chi: Don't the prizes interest you?

GC: I don't believe that the prizes can change the life of a person or can influence its career.

Chi: Joel Schumacher, that has directed you in "Batman & Robin", has said that you are so good because you are a self-made man (12 years...).

GC: The only thing of which I am aware is that today I succeed in appreciating my conquests exactly because for arriving here there has served (c'è voluto) a lot of time and job. I don't take anything for due. If success had arrived when I was in the beginnings, when I was 23, it would have been a very different experience. I have already lived the dark moments of the career, those harder. It is easier therefore to live a so beautiful moment at 40.

Chi: Speak us of your 40 years.

GC: I can't believe it.

Chi:You perfectly know that your charm doesn't have age.

GC: In certain days I guarantee you that my enemies sware I won't make it over 50.

Chi: Julianna Margulies, the actress of " E.R. ", said that in reality you improve with the time.

GC: Julianna is a friend. It is the friendship that makes her say so nice things. But, I repeat, you try to ask the people to which I am unpleasant, and you will have another opinion.

Chi: Your friend Margulies also says that you seem to be an adult with a young boys' heart.

GC: I belong to a world, and to a business, in which it's better to remain a little bit Peter Pan. Till now I have lived a very beautiful adventure.

Chi: Are you happy?

GC: Yes. In this period my life is really beautiful.

Chi: Do you have some important project? A great family?

GC: No. I don't think of it at all.

Chi: Do you have any regret, do you miss anything?

GC: I miss my privacy. I am not able to go to see a game of baseball, but I don't complain: it's the price of the fame.

Chi: And for love?

GC: I prefer to speak of friendship. It lasts longer. It is very important. What sense would it have to see the most beautiful sunset or to do the more amusing turn in motorbike, if it isn't shared with someone?

Chi: And it doesn't make to come the ulcer. Is it true that in 1992, when your marriage with Talia Balsam ended, you have suffered from ulcer?

GC: Yes, it's true.

Chi: Returning to the friendships. Nicole Kidman affirms that you can say everything with a look, without saying a word.

GC: It is because Nicole doesn't want to hear me speak. She wants to hold me calm, silent.

Chi: And the Kidman and Pfeiffer bet according to which you would have become father within 2001?

GC: For now, I've won.

© 2001 Interview by Tiziana Matovani for CHI magazine

The abc of the love according to George in Milan in June

- One of the best friends of George Clooney, the actor and writer Mark Adler (?!?), tells that the longest relationship of George Clooney is the one with Max, his nice pig, a gift to his ex girl-friend Kelly Preston (the actual wife of John Travolta), with whom he's living since half of the 80ies. Wisecracks apart, the business of heart is a delicate matter for the star, considered one of the most elusive gold bachelors of Hollywood. But what is the sentimental philosophy of Clooney, married and divorced by Talia Balsam, a three years love story with Celin Balitran ended in 1999?

The women - (...). I am 40 years old and I am a bachelor of Hollywood.

Ex - I work better as ex rather than as boy-friend.

The flirts - I haven't gone in bed with Elle MacPherson, neither with all the women that are attributed to me. I woud like it!

The female ideal - My ideal woman has to have a strong character, to be witty and a little bit crazy. And to understand my wisecracks.

The woman that makes him go crazy ? - My mother. she makes me become crazy when she asks me: "When do you get married?".

The love - it comes and goes.

The children - They are a great responsibility and I think that you should put them to the world when you are ready to educate them in the best way. I am not ready now.

The marriage - Mine has been a real disaster, to a large extent for my guilt.

New wedding - I don't think it really. I have tried and I don't have intention to retry.

Divorce - One of the periods more difficulties of my life. At the end I was badly indeed, also physically. I even got an ulcer.