'Nobody wants to see anybody age!' George Clooney reveals his plans to quit acting... because he's getting too old

  • Making a move behind the cameras as he focuses on directing 

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 10:30 EST, 3 March 2016 | Updated: 13:16 EST, 3 March 2016

He's got a huge and devoted following. 

But George Clooney has revealed he plans to quit acting - because he thinks he is getting too old.

Talking about his desire to focus on directing instead, the 54-year-old explained that he felt viewers didn't want to see him grow older.

'I think nobody really wants to see anybody really age,' Clooney told the BBC.

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Too old? George Clooney is considering quitting acting because he thinks he is getting too old; he is seen at the start of his career in 1989, left, and as he looks today, right
Too old? George Clooney is considering quitting acting because he thinks he is getting too old; he is seen at the start of his career in 1989, left, and as he looks today, right

Too old? George Clooney is considering quitting acting because he thinks he is getting too old; he is seen at the start of his career in 1989, left, and as he looks today, right

'You know, it's a very unforgiving thing, the camera is, and so aging becomes something that you know, you try to do less and less onscreen. You try to pick the films that work best for you and as you age they become less and less.'

Admitting that the situation was 'obviously a lot worse for women', Clooney went on to explain his plans to step behind the camera.

'As you age on screen you get to that point where you really understand that, you know, you can't stay in front of the camera your whole life. And so It's much more fun, and it's infinitely more creative, to be directing.'

Behind the camera: He called directing 'my great love', adding 'I do enjoy it a lot'

Behind the camera: He called directing 'my great love', adding 'I do enjoy it a lot'

He called directing 'my great love', adding 'I do enjoy it a lot. 

'I've had really great success, and I've had some not-so-successful films, and that's also part of the experience. But what I'll say is it's really fun.'

While best known for his work in front of the camera, The Hail, Caesar! star's directing credits include Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, Leatherheads and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. 

His breakout role: As Dr Doug Ross in E.R., back in the Nineties

His breakout role: As Dr Doug Ross in E.R., back in the Nineties

It was back in 1994 that Clooney first found fame in his breakout TV role as Dr Doug Ross on medical drama E.R.

He then made the leap onto the big screen in films such as Oceans Eleven, finding huge success, becoming the first person to receive Oscars nominations in six different categories.

He was a producer on Argo, which took the 2013 Academy Award for Best Picture. This was Clooney's second Oscar after being named Best Supporting Actor for Syriana in 2005.

Plans for the future: Clooney is pictured with his human rights lawyer wife Amal, at the premiere of Hail, Caesar! last week

Plans for the future: Clooney is pictured with his human rights lawyer wife Amal, at the premiere of Hail, Caesar! last week

 

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