Jay Kelly stars George Clooney and Adam Sandler reveal how age has changed ambitions and talk correcting past mistakes

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George Clooney and Adam Sandler are both well-known actors who began their careers in the late 1980s.

Given his extensive experience, it’s not surprising George Clooney, 64, landed the lead role in Noah Baumbach’s witty new comedy-drama, Jay Kelly. Adam Sandler, 59, plays Ron, his patient manager who constantly follows him around.

George, you play Jay Kelly, a very well-known actor. Have you ever thought about whether or not fame suited you personally?

George Clooney believes young actors don’t have the option to worry about fame when they’re starting out. Their main focus is simply finding work, and fame isn’t really a consideration at that stage.

Have your careers and ambition changed over the years?

I have young children, so I needed to make different career decisions. Directing would require me to travel for almost a year, and I want to be present at home with my family, so it’s no longer a viable option.

ADAM SANDLER: You’ll be back in 10 years!

It’s simpler to figure out what’s important when you’ve already achieved success. It’s much tougher when you’re still trying to prove yourself. For example, decisions about family become easier when you’re older and past the age of starting a family.

Adam, how have you juggled the work/life balance?

I grew up in a family that always put each other first, so being with them is incredibly important to me. I feel guilty and anxious when I’m away from my family for too long, which makes prioritizing them a natural thing for me to do.

You’re familiar faces – how do you cope with being recognised?

I just go with the flow and live my life pretty much as usual. It’s nice when I go somewhere and people recognize me and say hi, but that excitement fades, and then things settle into a good rhythm.

Which of each other’s performances have you admired?

I could talk about George’s play, Good Night, and Good Luck. He really broke records on Broadway! I was amazed by how calm, charming, and powerful you were during the performance.

You’ve both starred in comedy and intense dramas. Which is harder to play?

George thinks doing comedy is way more stressful than other types of performance. He feels a lot of pressure to be humorous, and he wonders if Adam experiences the same thing – if people constantly ask him to “be funny.”

ADAM: That has happened. I don’t usually rise to the occasion.

GEORGE: Well, you’re not right now, that’s for sure. You’re bringing us all down!

Jay Kelly had cheesecake as one of the demands on his rider. What’s on yours?

I started jokingly complaining about the heat on set years ago, saying things like, “Why is it so hot in here?” Eventually, people started assuming I preferred really cold temperatures. So, I’d arrive on set and it would be freezing, and when I’d ask why, they’d tell me it was because I liked it that way!

I said it one time! That’s my cheesecake.

Jay must confront the people he’s hurt in the past. Do you think it’s ever possible to make amends for past mistakes?

I certainly would hope so. I’ve often tried to fix things when I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve always tried to be honest about it, telling people when I didn’t handle a situation well. You’d like to think you can always do that, but sometimes it’s not possible.

Are you still in touch with old friends?

George and Thom Mathews, another actor, were often at the same auditions. If George didn’t land a role, he was happy if Thom did. They’ve been close friends for more than 40 years because of that mutual support.

I keep in touch with a lot of my old colleagues, but Jay Kelly really reminded me how much I appreciate the people who’ve supported me throughout my career. When a movie I worked on did well, I’d share that excitement with my team, and they felt it too. And when things didn’t go so well, they were right there with me, feeling the disappointment as well.

Jay and Ron have an interesting relationship – how do you get on with your own agents?

George says his agent, Bryan Lourd, is a top professional and also a close friend.

We’ve partnered to create four schools nationwide, focused on bringing diversity to the fields of editing and visual effects. I have immense respect and admiration for him, and I’m happy to say that. I’ve had different experiences with agents in the past, where that wasn’t the case, so this partnership is particularly meaningful to me.

I’ve definitely drawn inspiration from many people over the years. To prepare for the role of Ron, I actually observed and, well, borrowed traits from a lot of them. It’s a very giving profession – you focus entirely on the person you’re portraying, and I really loved doing that for George. Though, I wouldn’t say I’m that selfless in my own life!

Jay Kelly is available to stream on Netflix from 5 December.

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2025-11-24 21:21