Why George Clooney never dated Julia Roberts: 'We were fast friends right away'

George Clooney and Julia Roberts have had fans swooning over their on-screen chemistry for over 20 years. Despite their numerous roles as love interests, Clooney and Roberts have consistently denied any romantic connection off-screen, maintaining that their friendship has always been purely platonic.

Their first encounter

Clooney remembers his first impression of Roberts. 'She made me laugh,' he shared during an Access Hollywood interview while promoting Ticket to Paradise. Roberts was equally complimentary, describing Clooney as 'gentle.' However, despite the close bond they developed, both have clarified that romance was never on the table.

Clooney explained that one or the other was always in a relationship, so their dynamic stayed strictly friendly. He said:

Julia was always in a relationship, or I was in a relationship. And we were fast friends right away. So it was nothing, but it’s been nothing but fun for us.

When asked if they ever made a 'no-dating policy,' Roberts humorously added:

I don’t think we needed to state it!

Their connection, built on laughter and admiration, has remained free of romantic entanglements​​.

Clooney and Roberts' friendship

In fact, their close friendship made certain scenes in Ticket to Paradise particularly awkward to film. Roberts joked that after 20 years of friendship, kissing Clooney felt ridiculous. She said it took '79 takes of us laughing and then the one take of us kissing.'

The pair have shared how their families have intertwined over the years. During the filming of Ticket to Paradise, Clooney’s wife, Amal, and their twins visited the set, adding a layer of hilarity to the shooting of their romantic scenes. Clooney joked that his kids would have been confused by the kiss, saying:

What are you doing, papa? What is that?

Their bond is so strong that Roberts even visits the Clooneys at their home in Lake Como, Italy. Moreover, Roberts said that Clooney's family 'saved her from loneliness' when they were quarantining for the shooting of the film in Australia. Roberts was in a house by herself while George stayed with his wife and kids in another house. She said:

The Clooneys saved me from complete loneliness and despair.

We were in a bubble, and it’s the longest I’ve ever been away from my family. I don’t think I’ve spent that much time by myself since I was 25.

Both stars are happily married, with Clooney tying the knot with Amal in 2014 and Roberts being married to cinematographer Danny Moder since 2002.

Over the years, Clooney and Roberts have co-starred in six films, including the Ocean’s Eleven series and Money Monster.

This article was translated from Oh!MyMag DEand modified using AI.

Sources used:

Vanity Fair'Why George Clooney and Julia Roberts Never Dated'

WMagazine'George Clooney and Julia Roberts Never Had a “No Date” Policy'

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