George Clooney humorously admitted he often feels like the “village idiot” compared to his wife, renowned human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. The actor, 64, made the lighthearted comment during the premiere of his film “Jay Kelly” at the New York Film Festival, where he attended with Amal.
Amal’s distinguished career includes representing figures like Julian Assange and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, as well as contributing to a UN inquiry on armed drones. In 2025, she became a Professor of Practice at Oxford University and has served as a senior fellow at Columbia University’s Human Rights Institute.
The couple married in Venice, Italy, in 2014 and welcomed their twins, Ella and Alexander, in 2017. Earlier this year, Amal, 47, praised her husband’s unwavering support, telling Glamour, “I have a partner in life who is so supportive of what I do. I don’t feel like I have to apologize for it or rein it in.”
Clooney’s new film mirrors themes of legacy and self-reflection, as he portrays a famous actor reevaluating his life alongside his manager, played by Adam Sandler. When asked if the role prompted personal reflection, Clooney noted that achieving fame later in life—he rose to stardom in his 30s with “ER” and films like “Ocean’s Eleven”—spared him from potential pitfalls of early celebrity. “I could see how it would have been very bad for me at a younger age,” he remarked.
The film, featuring costars Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Riley Keough, premieres in theaters November 14 and streams on Netflix December 5.