George Clooney and beloved wife Amal hosted his surprising Jay Kelly co-stars at their $100M Lake Como villa on Tuesday.
The actor, 64, was joined by a whole host of famous faces, including fellow Oscar winner Laura Dern, 58, Barbie director Greta Gerwig, 42, as well as comedy icon Adam Sandler, 58, and actress Eve Hewson, daughter of U2’s Bono.
George and Amal, 47, along with their eight-year-old twins Ella and Alexander, treated their guests to a trip on their motorboat as they left their majestic Villa Oleandra for lunch at the exclusive Villa d’Este before heading to Venice.
The cast were in Italy for the premiere of the Netflix comedy-drama which will be screened on Wednesday evening at the city’s annual Film Festival, before its streaming service release December 5.
Jay Kelly sees Clooney take on the title role of the Hollywood movie star who ‘always plays himself’, weeks after hitting back at claims that he himself lacked onscreen versatility.
Directed by Gerwig’s husband Noah Baumbach, the trailer sees Clooney’s character questioning his life choices, despite being fawned over by fans and staff.
George Clooney, 64, and beloved wife Amal, 47, hosted his surprising Jay Kelly co-stars at their $100M Lake Como villa on Tuesday (Pictured in Venice)
The actor was joined by a whole host of famous faces, including (L-R) Adam Sandler , 58, Laura Dern , 58, Barbie director Greta Gerwig, 42, and Eve Hewson, daughter of U2’s Bono
Jay Kelly sees Clooney (pictured in the film) play a Hollywood movie star who ‘always plays himself’, weeks after hitting back at claims that he himself lacked onscreen versatility
On a trip to an Italian film festival in his honour, joined by his devoted manager played by Sandler, he’s hailed as the ‘hero of cinema’ before being brutally asked about always playing himself.
To which Clooney’s character snaps back: ‘You know how difficult it is to be yourself? You try it’.
Jay Kelly is seen continuously reminding himself that he is ‘Jay Kelly’ as he and Ron embark on a trip through Europe amid the disappearing appeal of showbiz.
The offical synopsis reads: ‘Famous movie actor Jay Kelly and his devoted manager Ron embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind’.
The star-studded cast also includes Jim Broadbent, Isla Fisher, Billy Crudup as well as British comedian Lenny Henry.
Clooney has had an illustrious career spanning 40 years, in which he’s bagged an Academy Award for his role in Syriana in addition to a wealth of other accolades.
But earlier this week during a recent interview with Variety, the Ocean’s 11 star was asked about the doubts about his range as an actor, with George furiously snapping back: ‘Do people say that I only play myself? I don’t give a sh*t.’
He went on: ‘There aren’t that many guys in my age group that are allowed to do both broad comedies like O Brother [Where Art Though?] and then do Michael Clayton or Syriana. So if that means I’m playing myself all the time, I don’t give a sh*t.’
Directed by Gerwig’s husband Noah Baumbach, the trailer sees Clooney’s character questioning his life choices, despite being fawned over by fans and staff
George and Amal treated guests to a trip on their motorboat as they left their majestic Villa Oleandra for lunch at the exclusive Villa d’Este (L-R) Adam Sandler and Laura Dern in Venice
The cast were in Italy for the premiere of the Netflix comedy-drama which will be screened on Wednesday evening at the Venice Film Festival , before its release December 5
They were also joined by Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (pictured) and Billy Crudup
Eve Hewson pictured with dad Bono in 2013
Echoing a quote from his character Jay Kelly, he added: ‘Have you ever tried playing yourself? It’s hard to do.’
The Hollywood hunk continued: ‘I’ve been the beneficiary of having my career not be massively successful in lots of different directions. I didn’t really get successful, in the kind of success that can be blinding, until I was 33 years old [when ER began].’
‘I’d been working for 12 years at that point. I had a real understanding of how fleeting all of it is and how little it has to do with you, quite honestly.’
Clooney only paid €10million for the house when he bought it from the Heinz family in 2002.
It was also reported that the filmmaker’s presence on Lake Como set off a real estate boom, prompting prices of properties in the area to double.
The home, which boasts 25 rooms, was estimated at over $100million in 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Lake Como has sentimental value to the Hollywood heartthrob as he met prominent human rights lawyer Amal there in 2013 when she came over for a dinner party with mutual friends.
Throughout the trailer George’s character continually reminds himself that he is ‘Jay Kelly’ as he and his pal embark on a whirlwind trip through Europe
On a trip to an Italian film festival in his honour, joined by his devoted manager played by Sandler , he’s hailed as the ‘hero of cinema’ before being brutally asked about playing himself
Jay Kelly is released on Netflix December 5
In a September 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor recalled: ‘I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart.’
The home has seen its share of entertainment industry A-listers.
In 2004, the entire cast of Ocean’s Twelve was treated to a visit at the villa.
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski tied the knot there in 2010, with Krasinski explaining to Elle six years later how it came to be.
The Boston-born actor revealed that George offered the home to the couple multiple times.
‘Only on the fourth ask did I say yes. Because the first three times I thought, there’s no way he is serious,’ he explained.
2018 saw Jennifer Aniston briefly make the space her home while she worked on the comedy film Murder Mystery.
