How does George Clooney, the director, work with George Clooney, the A-list movie star?
Clooney: It’s tricky because there’s an enormous amount of narcissism that comes into play. You are really, truly breaking the trust between actors, in particular when you’re in the lead. Not a lot of actors tell each other what to do. You have to go to each of the actors and say, “Listen, this is going to be awkward.” As an actor, it’s easy because I know specifically, precisely, what I need in the scene. So I’ve cut out one step as the director having to explain it. I wouldn’t by design do a film that I would play the lead in, ever again. Q: Actors who direct usually say they didn’t expect it to be so difficult, so as they go on, they either take themselves out of the film, or they do less acting. But here, in your third film, you’ve actually increased your presence. Clooney: Yes. The next one’s a one-man show. [Laughs] The truth is, I did it because this was a part that, for a long, long, long time, I’ve wanted to play. And I thought I was the right guy to play it. I’m 46. If I don’
