At a Venice Film Festival masterclass, George Clooney reflected on his unconventional path to acting success, the guiding principle instilled by his father, and lessons from a career spanning decades. Speaking to an enthusiastic audience on the Lido, the Oscar winner discussed working on a Kentucky tobacco farm and selling insurance before breaking into acting, and encouraged aspiring performers to pursue their ambitions despite the uncertainty involved. The talk offers insight into how a major star reflects on luck, timing and perseverance in a notoriously unpredictable industry.

Clooney, now 65, said he found fame relatively late at 33 with ER, which he credited with allowing him room to make mistakes privately and avoid being typecast. He stressed that luck plays a huge role in success alongside talent and hard work, citing his own choice between two TV pilots as a turning point. He also spoke about key collaborators including Steven Soderbergh, the Coen Brothers and producing partner Grant Heslov, his admiration for Gregory Peck and Paul Newman, and the humanitarian work he does with his wife Amal Clooney, including helping free detained journalists. He shared a rule from his father: to challenge those with more power and defend those with less, which he said he and Amal try to live by.