He is the most famous single. And the more desired. The women like him, and the men too. In an exclusive interview for GQ George Clooney reveals the secret of his charm. And tells Riccardo Romani why he has decided to be in first line with the motorbike's doctors of "Running Heart".

ME, A MOTORCYCLE AND THE WOMEN
There's the voice of George Clooney taped on my answering machine. It's an affable, nice tone, he tries to say also two words in Italian. He explains me that we ought to hear again, that, if I want, I can call him again to a certain number of Los Angeles. Now, this detail (revealed with innocence) is enough for discovering a lot of new friends: women of various ages (barmaids, bank-clerks, a sister, shop-assistants, also a tennis-player) that shameless ask me to listen (and to listen again) those 35 seconds of exclusive George Clooney. They do it with the skill of an entomologist, they conclude the listening with a satisfied smile.

I wonder: what kind of life can have one whose voice is enough for knocking out small legions of females? Indeed, I ask it directly to him, to the sex symbol for definition, to the single more appetite of USA (Europe? Asia? Oceania?); to the man that rings at the bell of Martini's spot and in 30 seconds has overexcited the Auditel (note: an Italian system for recording the TV listening); to the doctor of E.R. who has treated the heartache to million of tv-dependents (women).

First problem: it isn't easy to make questions to GC, because he wants to do the questions. A strategy for weakening the curious ones. And since he is about to come to Italy, where he'll spend more than a month (dear friends, you have read well, a month), is he wants to know a lot of things. Clubs, little towns to visite, natural beauties, restaurants, recipes, out-of-the way hotels. And so on. Because George will go around Italy by motorbike. From North to South. Incognito. At least, he tries it.

A MAN ON MOTORBIYKE
The motorcycle is the real reason for his trip, that is the Running Heart project, for which he is the star. An important project: to carry medical apparatuses with the motorcycle for saving human lifes. Word of a man that has passed a life, as actor, in the emergency room and another life, as man, in the saddle of a motorbike.
Therefore, because among bikers it is understood immediately, this chat begins just about the two wheels. After the mutual and proud list of broken bones, scars and falls, it can start already convinced to trust each other.

Riccardo Romani: Excuse me, George: you have turned 40, you go around by motorbike with a friend, incognito and without women by your side. It seems to be a hymn to the single life.
George Clooney: But who said so? I know some people that are married and that have made the honeymoon by motorcycle. I believe that it's one of a lot stereotypes that are born about me. But I'm not interested in it: the people think what they want.
RR: However, you like the motorbikes a lot. The first, do you remember it?
GC: Sure. A Harley, like those in endowment to the police. Year 1982. Then I had got an Honda, like chopper. Recently I have exaggerated. I've bought 5 in only one go, for my friends, for going around all together. But the new Indian bikes aren't good enough. They give a lot of problems. The old ones were better. I've had one of 1949, a spectacle.

RR: You seem to be a man who, if it is needed, repairs the motorbike by yourself.
GC: It's the most funny part. I want to say: last week I have remained afoot. I have taken two hours and I have gotten dirty up to the ears, but you don't know what satisfaction it is when the motorbike runs again. Who loves the motorbike knows it, there is no need that I explain it. This is the reason for which I prefer the old motorbikes to those new. Perhaps it is romantic thing, but those new always leave you afoot and stop. You cannot do anything.

RR: To agree to the "Running Heart" Italian campaign has been easy therefore.
GC: It is an intelligent thing. You don't know how many lifes can be saved. Before coming to Italy, I didn't know how much the roads were tightened in your cities. You had to think it before.
RR: The novelty is in the use of the motorbike as mean of transportation and salvation.
GC: And this is what has fascinated me. The biker is always seen like an cursed, almost a bandit. Instead no, the bikers are splendid people that can do a lot for the others. I hope that my pledge helps the understanding of this aspect.

RR: Then a month around in Italy. But if the people recognize you on the way?
GC: It's my vacation, I have worked too much in the last times. I will try to avoid the crowded places and the great cities. I have an Italian guide, a great friend, also because with the language I must really improve. Certainly, once in Rome I am also pursued by 9 paparazzis in scooter. All this is a little bit insane. But I will be careful. And above all I count to give them the slip, if they will want to pursue me.

HOLLYWOOD? IT'S A GAME
RR: Is the usual history of the star that is complained for the excessive notoriety.
GC: No, I swear, it isn't this way. I am really happy about my life, my job and what I have gotten so far. The fact is that at one point you become famous and you don't understand anything anymore. In the sense that the other ones start to see you as you are on the screen, and instead you continue to see you as yourself. And this is a problem. Amusing, if you want, but strange. However it is all right. Few days ago, on the set of "Ocean 11", with Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, we were having such a good time that at one point we have looked each other in face. And we said: but do you realize that they pay us for this? And however, I confess you, when I was a child I was a great pest, more worse than those paparazzis.
RR: In what sense?
GC: Once, in Kentucky, where I grew up, Raymond Burr turned up, the actor of "Perry Mason". You know: an event without precedents for the people of the place. Well, I have chased him the whole day and every five minutes I grabbed his jacket and told him: "You are Perry Mason, you are Perry Mason."
RR: Well, you are saying that you are a boy as so many others and that Hollywood hasn't changed you either a bit. Mah...
GC: I know it, the people want to believe in what they like more, but that's right, indeed. Also the history of the lady-killer playboy, look that it's a whole invention.
RR: And so, how does George Clooney live as single ?
GC: Meanwhile I have the fortune to have a wonderful house with a lot of funs, like a swimming pool and playrooms, that often makes it useless to go out. I have done it in this way for my friends. They are, among other things, all married with children. I spend my Sundays minding their children, things that I like a lot. And often during the week I remain also alone. And as going out for supper, choosing the restaurant where nobody bothers you, at the end tires, often happens that I order the supper at home. And I watch TV, anything else than the playboy's den! But nobody believes it.

THE IDEAL WOMAN
RR: Well then, we make a game. We imagine that you are a playboy: make the identikit of your ideal woman using the characteristics of the actresses, always wonderful, with which you have worked.
GC: It's a big problem.
RR: Try.
GC: My ideal woman should have the Nicole Kidman laughter. Then the personality of Julia Roberts. The aspect of Michelle Pfeiffer, that for me is a little bit the quintessence of the beauty. And finally the
ambition of Jennifer Lopez. It's no bad, eh?
RR: You like to play, it says that you don't want to grow up and for this you want to remain single.
GC: It isn't true, I have changed a lot, now I don't do foolishness anymore. Past water.
RR: Like what?
GC: Speaking of motorbike, in the Eighties I was rather crazy. I drove and I drank. Until when a lady in a car gotten run me over, I was on a Honda 750, year 1984. I have understood in hurry that I had to change
style of life.
RR: Soon the film "Insomnia" with Al Pacino will be aired, then "Ocean 11" with Julia Roberts, but also "Welcome to Collinwood", a small production. Why does one as Clooney have to do so small movies?
GC: In fact I don't have to do them. I like to do them, stop. I have enough money not to care about my future. I don't have the paranoia of Hollywood, it doesn't interest me at all. Who wants to preserve the image, in reality spoils it. Then I go for instinct, as I did when I was a Mr. Nobody. If I like the script, I believe in it, I make the movie.

THE SEDUCER'S SECRET
RR: Ok, you are not the heartbreaker that they want us to believe. But at least you can tell us how to seduce a woman?
GC: The real truth is that it isn't necessary to seduce the women.
RR: The motorbike doesn't work anymore?
GC: With whom?
RR: With the girls?
GC: The women are very smarter than what you could think. The motorbikes serve for making hit on the other males. Let's exhibit to them to dumbfound the friends and the rivals. I would have a bad opinion of the women if I thought to be able to make breach thanks to my Harley.
RR: And well then?
GC: And well then you leave it alone. Let the women seduce you. It is the safest way.
RR: I can say around that I know you?
GC: If you think that it serve to you, do it, it's a pleasure.

Naturally it was a wisecrack. Obvious, it doesn't serve, it's only a game. But, to avoid misunderstanding, for a while I didn't cancel the taped voice of George Clooney on my answering machine.

© 2001 Interview by Riccardo Romani for GQ magazine, © photos by Sam Jones