10 Questions for George Clooney

By Carolyn Sayre

Yes, he's a heartthrob, but he's also a serious Darfur activist who knows what it's like to be different in high school. His latest movie, Michael Clayton, opens Oct. 12. George Clooney will now take your questions.

Do you think celebrity activism has become cliche? --David Barry, Armidale, Australia You don't want to be a spokesperson unless you are absolutely committed to a cause because you can hurt it. I've been asked to help represent environmental groups. I'm a big proponent of cleaning up the environment. I have two electric cars. But I also have a big weak spot because I've flown on private jets. However, I welcome any of these dumb pundits who make celebrities out to be bad guys to a discussion about Darfur. Because I've been there and I've met all the players, and I guarantee you, the pundits haven't.

After all your advocacy work to help Darfur, why do you think the situation is not improving? --Antoinette Vermilye, Crans-pres-celigny, Switzerland [Sudanese President] Omar al-Bashir doesn't have any incentive to do anything else. We can't sanction Sudan because we don't do trade with it. And al-Bashir can frame any peace-keeping mission as a Western invasion of another Muslim country. So people like the Chinese, who do business with these guys, have to say, "We're not going to trade with you anymore. You guys are going to have to drink oil." That's what it's going to come down to.

You were vocal about the paparazzi after Princess Di's death. Who do you blame most for the current celebrity-news frenzy? --Stephanie Gilmore, Ocala, Ola. I am the son of an anchorman. I am a First Amendment guy. In a statement after Diana's death, I said the only thing worse than out-of-control photographers with no sense of conscience would be trying to restrict them. You can't restrict freedom of speech or the press, even if it is miserable.

How did having Bell's palsy affect who you are today? --Spencer Navejar, Provo, Utah Freshman year in high school is a bad time to have half your face paralyzed, but it helped me develop more of a personality. You have to make fun of yourself, or else you're going to have a really rough life.

Were you serious when you dissed the quality of the Ocean's Thirteen script? --Rina Echavez, Los Angeles With the exception of The Godfather: Part II, first films like Ocean's Eleven are generally the best, and the sequels usually deteriorate until you end up with Jaws 5 or whatever. Twelve sort of fell apart, and we didn't want to go out like that. We wanted another crack at it. Thirteen was a lot better.

You once said Paul Newman is an example of the longevity few actors achieve. What does the future hold for you? --Ed Flood, Havertown, Pa. Most actors don't get that kind of time in the spotlight, so the trick is to focus more on writing and directing. My hope is that as time goes on and people want to see less and less of me onscreen, which happens to everybody, I'll be able to direct.

Would you consider running for President one day? --Emeli Marcondes Scotts Valley, Calif. No. As an advocate, I can take a side and stand by it and not have to worry about ticking off some constituents who helped get me elected. I don't want all those kinds of strings attached.

Did you make a bet with Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman that they would have to pay you $10,000 if you were still single when you turned 40? --Jeremy Salmon, Binghamton, N.Y. Yes, I won that bet. They paid up. When Nicole sent me the check, I sent it back and said, "Send it to charity."

Given your recent accident, are your motorcycle days over? --Tayla Russell, Washington No, I ride a motorcycle when I'm home in Los Angeles. It's my main mode of transportation. I've been riding for 30 years, and I've had three accidents, which isn't bad odds. I'll keep riding.

I was sorry to hear about the death of your beloved pet pig, Max. Will you get another? --Jackie Cole, Lafayette, Ind. No, there is only going to be one pet pig in my life. [Laughs.] I have done the pig thing.

For more from Clooney and to subscribe to the 10 Questions podcast on iTunes, go to time.com/10questions. TIME's interview with the actor continues on the next page. Read the extra questions for George Clooney

You spent many years as a struggling actor. What was that time like for you? --Lars Taner, London I get a little too much credit for that struggling actor thing. It wasn't like I was waiting tables for 15 years. There were only about three years of true struggle. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was doing construction work and other odd jobs to make some cash, and I rode a bicycle to auditions that were 15 or 20 miles away. But from that point on, I was making a living. If you are making a living at all as an actor, you are beating the odds--even though I was doing some really bad television.

Did you think ER would be such a hit when you took the part of Dr. Doug Ross? Any chance of a cameo? --Dawn Carpenter, Philadelphia I knew it was a really good show. Initially, we were picked up for Friday at 10:00. But when I found out we got picked up for Thursday night, I looked over at my buddy and said, 'I think my career just got made.' Then we beat out Chicago Hope, which wasn't supposed to happen. The minute that happened, I knew things would be different. But no, I am not coming back. I think it would be a distraction. I did come back once to pick up Julianna [Margulies] from the show, but I wouldn't do it again.

What presidential candidate are you rooting for? --Sloan Mills, Leitchfield, Ky. Barack Obama. He is a friend and I have fundraised for him.

As a man from the Middle East, I was glad to see that Syriana and Three Kings did not stereotype Arabs as aggressors. Do you think the U.S. is involved in the Middle East only to protect its own self-interest? --Ahmed Abbas, Cairo Most countries are involved in almost everything they do only to protect their own self-interests. It would be naive to think that anyone is doing anything out of the goodness of their heart.

If you could become one of your characters in real life, who would it be? --Ryan Fleming, Batavia, N.Y. I have played such idiots over the years. Probably, Danny Ocean. He married Julia Roberts, he has done very well and has great friends.

Congrats on being named People's Sexiest Man Alive, twice! Who should win this year? --Bernadette Cerruto, Fairfeld, N.J. We have been campaigning for Matt Damon. With the success of the Bourne movie and Ocean's 13, we think this might be his year. We are hoping that he finally gets it before he is too old. [Laughs.] There are an awful lot of sexiest men out there. But to me, it's always going to be Brad Pitt.

Who would win in a fight: Jason Bourne or Danny Ocean's crew? --Dan Morris, Concord, N.H. Jason Bourne, unfortunately. He would win against all of them. But Batman [who Clooney played in 1997] would kick his ass.