George Clooney was forced to pull out of press conferences and photo-calls at the Venice Film Festival earlier this week due to a ‘bad’ health issue
Hollywood icon George Clooney confessed “I can’t speak” despite gracing the red carpet last night after missing film festival appearances. The four-time Golden Globe champion withdrew from press conferences and photo opportunities at the Venice Film Festival owing to “a bad sinus infection”. The 64-year-old legend did, however, manage to attend the world premiere of his new picture Jay Kelly, and was photographed on the red carpet alongside his stunning wife Amal.
Yet on multiple occasions, Clooney was spotted grasping his throat and allegedly paused to tell onlookers: “I can’t speak!” The puzzling health issue had triggered worry amongst supporters earlier on Thursday, though sources assured The Hollywood Reporter there was no cause for alarm.
Clooney, hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, was said to be “so devastated” he couldn’t make it to the press conference for the coming-of-age drama Jay Kelly. His fellow actors, including Adam Sandler, Laura Dern and Billy Crudup, were present at the Venice event, as well as the cast meal that followed.
Film director Noah Baumbach remarked: “Even movie stars get sick,” reports the Mirror.
The press conference host informed reporters: “George Clooney is not going to be here because he has a bad sinus infection and I think he should be on the red carpet tonight and he’s very sorry he can’t be with us.”
However, Clooney, a father of two, effortlessly navigated the 30-minute red carpet event later that evening in Venice, where the cast posed for stunning photos and engaged with journalists. Despite admitting to the crowd that he was struggling with his speech, both he and Amal dazzled on the red carpet.
In the film, Clooney takes on the role of the eponymous Kelly, a renowned movie star, while Sandler portrays his loyal manager, as they embark on a journey of self-discovery across Europe.
Baumbach spoke about crafting the film specifically for the Ocean’s Eleven actor, stating: “I’ve known George over the years and have been wanting to find something to do with him and early on we started to say ‘This is going to be George.’
“I felt it was really important the audience watching the movie have a relationship with the actor playing the character, so that we all watching it have a history with George – just like the people in the movie have a history with Jay.
“The character is running from himself for so much of the movie and deflecting and trying to hide, and what essentially I was asking of George was to reveal more and more of himself as he does that.”
Jay Kelly will hit UK cinemas on November 14 and will premiere on Netflix on December 5.
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