Sunday March 7, 2010

GEORGE Clooney doesn’t take his success for granted.

The Hollywood hunk says his newmsan father and his aunt, a famous singer, taught him to appreciate what he has and treat people with respect.

“Before I came to Hollywood I was the son of a famous newsman and my aunt Rosemary had been one of the biggest stars in the music business in her day (she starred in White Christmas),” Clooney told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper. “So I knew what it meant to be a celebrity and how it could all go away pretty fast.

“My father taught me about having principles and how to treat people with respect. My aunt also taught me how to keep a perspective on everything that happens to you. So you learn to be humble and not take your success for granted.”

George — who’s currently romancing Italian TV presenter Elisabetta Canalis — also revealed he doesn’t go on dates.

“Frankly, I don’t go on dates, because anytime you go out in public with someone when you’re well known there are pictures of you everywhere and it’s like you’re a ‘thing’,” he said. “Mostly I spend time getting to know people at work, or a party, or at a friend’s house.”

Clooney says buying his Italian villa was one of the best things he ever did.

“The thing which changed my life in a very pleasant and unexpected way was buying the villa in Laglio, Italy,” he said.

“It’s much easier for me to hang out with friends at a restaurant in Laglio without 50 photographers showing up. I also get to practice my horrible Italian and my friends and I do everything but talk about the film business. But unfortunately it’s turning into a tourist Mecca now so I have to be a little more careful… I don’t really worry about that though. Whenever I want, I can stage a diversion and invite Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and their 15 children to come over. Then I can sneak away to the other side of the lake by boat and do whatever I want.”

Tags: george clooney