my son. Now, their thing is they just give me a hard time all the time, which is very funny and I really appreciate it because um, you know, I’m I feel very lucky to have these two knuckleheads in my life and uh and to watch them sort of form opinions and figure out who they’re going to be along the way. Jay Kelly, so handsome.

Look at you. You’re the American dream. The last of the old movie star. I’m down here. You’re up there. You’re down here. You’re in here. We did this together. I was moved to tears. I’m a daddy’s girl, there was a particular scene where Jay Kelly is sort of experiencing his daughters.

I won’t say much, but after watching that film, the first person I called was my father. And I know he will see a lot of similarities. Um, in a good way. Was anything about this a call to action for you? No. You know, look, I’m lucky, you know, because I I became a father much later in life and more settled. You know, I think it’s hard when you’re young.

Yeah. You know, I think it’s a lot of work. And, you know, we all the thing that I liked about this film is it’s not really about an actor. It’s about all of us. It’s about how we balance work and family. And none of us get it right. And we always have regrets. Norman Leer who was 101 years old at a hundred said to me, you know, you never look back and go, I wish I worked more, right? You know, it’s I wish I spent more time with my family. But you can’t.

You know, I my parents missed things that I did because they had to work. They had to put food on the table. So I it was less a call to action because for me I’ I’ve been a little lucky in that sense because starting later was a lot easier quite honestly. But, you know, listen, my kids are all gonna end up in therapy anyway, you know, because they’re my kids, no matter what the parents do to the best of their abilities.

The kids are always like, it was so hard. My parents ruined my life. They don’t understand. It’s like, you got good problems, kid. Okay. Myself included. Mom, dad, I love you very much. Yes. I She just said so many nice things about you before she said all of it. All of it. Just before the camera started rolling.

Um, I want to ask you though, what did resonate most? you read this script. Um, it would be obvious for someone to assume, okay, there’s some parallels. George Clooney, world famous movie star. Jay Kelly, world famous movie star. What actually though in those pages jumped out seeing yourself in? I don’t you know what I It was funny because when I read it, I thought the guy was such a a jerk, you know, and I talked to Noah.

I said, you know, we got to make him, you know, got to find some charm in this guy. He writes he wrote such a beautiful script. But um watching I I I didn’t relate to the character that much because I don’t I don’t I haven’t surrounded myself with all those trappings, you know, and uh you know, I don’t pay my friends.

I should uh and I and you know, I have a good relationship with my father and I, you know, all of those things. So I didn’t have that the the the feeling of that. So I was able to kind of stand back and look at it from outside. But look, I mean, you know, you know this when you get a it’s very seldom that somebody sends you a really good script and there’s a really good director and that changes you.

I’m 64 years old, so you don’t get that many opportunities. You know, I have a hard time believing that you George Clooney. No, you don’t get that many opportunities to work with on a great project with a great director and wonderful actors and it’s rare. Wow. And to that point, wonderful actors, Adam Sandler, it was such a treat to see him in this dramatic role.

Great. I mean, he was well, we’ve known each other for 30 years, and you know, he’s actually been doing some really wonderful work for a long time. Um, and I knew he’d be great in this and the to be able to for the two of us to be able to work together. We really had a fun time and he’s a you know, he’s one of the sweetest guys in the world and a and a a good friend.

So, it was really fun. And, you know, Laura Durn and I we worked together 40 years ago when she was 15. Wow. Wow. So, I mean, it’s we’ve had a long history with a lot of the people. No, I remember hearing that back in the day SNL a little basketball was, right? Did we do any basketball in Italy? We played a lot of basketball in Italy.

Who was bricking? Who was making the shots? Like one, talk to me. I have to tell you, um, uh, Adam since we started playing back in the mid 90s, has improved considerably. He’s got a very good shot. Okay. Now, and he also likes to drive, which, you know, when you get older, you tend to stand outside and shoot.

Yeah. because you don’t really the more you drive the more it hurts you know pay for it later you always pay for it so I think he’s he’s he’s the most improved player okay the most improved player got it I love to hear that that actually that was a really Clooney way of getting around the fact that you probably beat the breaks off of Adam Sandler I can take it so gracious I don’t honestly I don’t know anymore cuz I am old I am not taking that back bait whatever this is you’re looking good you’re shining um stop fishing for compliments

George, not fishing. I’m kidding. Um, obviously filming in Italy. Talk to me a little bit about a highlight for you. Um, how’s your Italian these days? I uh I don’t speak it particularly well. I understand it pretty well. Okay. You know, I um you know, cuz uh I’ve spent years like 30 years riding my motorcycle through Italy.

I’m not allowed to ride anymore because I got in a wreck. Um but I know all of these little villages. And when we were we started in Milan and we worked our way down as a troop, all the actors and I would go, “Oh, we’re going to be near this town, Zabello, and there’s a restaurant called Labuka. It’s out in the field somewhere.

” And we’d all go down there. And so we traveled around as a as a family. And it was really, you know, Adam’s daughter and I have the same birthday, so we had a big birthday party for her. And yeah, it was it was just a it felt like a kind of like the movie. It felt like a family, you know. I love hearing that.

Now, I want to take it back eight years ago. I think that’s the first time I ever interviewed you. Okay. Was Tiff Suburban guy red carpet. That’s right. And I remember you showing me offscreen the twins because I had asked about them. Obviously, they were new on the scene. It was very exciting. And you said they had their mama’s eyes.

Well, I said they had their mama’s eyes and you agreed. And then you said they were like little 22 year olds already, girl. What age are they acting? They’re not They’re not Now they’re 48. They’re pushing 48. Yeah, they’re pushing 48. They got mortgages. The bills are due. No, you know, my son, my son cracks me up because, you know, our kids, you know, they’re you know, they speak fluent Italian, fluent French.

Wow. Guess who doesn’t? Wow. Um Yeah, me. They got to keep you humble. Oh, dude. They just they literally they they’ll whenever they want to insult me, they just start speaking in, you know, in French in front of me. I’m like, “What’ you say? What’ you do?” Yeah. I dare you to say that in English. Yeah.

And but they’re, you know, my son now their thing is they just give me a hard time all the time, which is very funny. And I really appreciate it because um you know I’m I feel very lucky to have these two knuckleheads in my life and uh and to watch them sort of form opinions and figure out who they’re going to be along the way. And uh People’s Sexiest Man Alive.

You are one of very few people. Two times. Only four people to ever have it two times. Two times. It’s a big deal. What advice do you have for the newest sexiest man alive, Jonathan Bailey, on how to carry this towards? Well, I have to say, uh, in looking back over the last year, I think Jonathan ran a very good campaign.

Yeah. And I feel that he worked hard and I think he deserved it. Um, uh, you know, Matt Damon was upset, as you know, because he always is campaigning. Yeah. He’s just trying, but and he’s, you know, he’s been like working out and doing stuff and he looks very good, but, you know, Jonathan had him really from the very beginning.

So, I want to congratulate Jonathan on the on his work and uh and hope that maybe he can repeat because I think he seems like a repeater. Absolutely. [Music]