George Clooney Reveals How Closely Netflix’s ‘Jay Kelly’ Reflects His Real-Life Movie Star Legacy [Exclusive]

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George Clooney recently discussed his part in the new Netflix film, Jay Kelly, where he plays a famous actor grappling with his past. The movie is directed by Noah Baumbach, known for critically acclaimed films like Marriage Story and Frances Ha. Baumbach co-wrote the screenplay with Emily Mortimer, who also acts in the film as a character named Candy. Clooney stars alongside a talented ensemble cast including Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, and Patrick Wilson.

The story centers on Jay Kelly, an actor reflecting on his life and career as he travels through Europe with his manager, Ron. George Clooney himself has been a public figure for three decades and recognizes the parallels between his own experiences and the character he plays. Jay Kelly grapples with how people perceive him – both how he sees himself and how the public views his on-screen persona – as everyone has a different understanding of who he is.

In a conversation with Joe Deckelmeier from MovieWeb, George Clooney discussed the challenge of portraying both the character and himself within the film Jay Kelly.

The initial appeal was definitely getting a call about working with Noah Baumbach. As an actor, there are certain directors you really want to collaborate with, and he was one of them. Then I read the script. It’s interesting, now that I’ve finished the movie, people comment on the line about playing yourself, and how the role does draw on parts of my own life.

He introduced characteristics that made the character seem like someone from Kentucky, and I can see why others interpreted it that way. However, to me, he came across as unpleasant. He’s like a destructive force – he enters situations and negatively impacts the people around him, but he does it with a carefree attitude. I saw him as a deeply regretful character, something I haven’t personally experienced. I was able to maintain some distance while reading it, but now I understand. Seeing the whole story come together, it’s clear – the character reminds me of myself.

George Clooney’s ‘Jay Kelly’ Role Draws Real Life Parallels


Peter Mountain/Netflix

George Clooney says a major reason he joined the film Jay Kelly was the chance to work with director Noah Baumbach. Baumbach has a reputation for drawing out great performances from actors – he’s worked with stars like Ben Stiller, Scarlett Johansson, and Adam Driver, often multiple times. Clooney himself frequently chooses projects based on the director, having previously collaborated with acclaimed filmmakers such as the Coen brothers, Alexander Payne, Jason Reitman, and Steven Soderbergh, and he was eager to add Baumbach to that list.

Jay Kelly shares some background with George Clooney – both characters have roots in Kentucky, a detail Clooney intentionally included. While this adds depth to Kelly, Clooney recognizes audiences will likely see similarities between the character and himself. Despite this, Clooney points out key differences: he describes Kelly as unlikeable, whereas people generally consider Clooney to be a kind and approachable person.

The movie Jay Kelly has been well-received by critics, with an 80% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s playing in select theaters now, and will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 5th, featuring George Clooney in the lead role.

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2025-11-26 16:22