In Touch with George Clooney

It looked like George Clooney might change his bachelor ways when he met Sarah Larson last summer. But not long after the Las Vegas waitress/model moved into his LA home, George, 47, had a change of heart and ended their relationship in late May. Still, he insists he’s capable of settling down. “For a long time I took every chance to say that I was not going to marry again,” says George, who divorced actress Talia Balsam in 1993. “So I became very careful after a failed marriage. But am I afraid of committing? It’s never occurred to me.”

So you’re not anti-marriage?
What do people say: A good wife at the cooker is worth gold!

What’s it like being one of Hollywood’s biggest playboys?
I’m not a playboy. If I had been with all the women that I was said to have been with, I wouldn’t have had the time to shoot one single movie.

But you’re often spotted with lovely ladies by your side.
If people see me having dinner with a beautiful woman, they immediately believe that we’re having a love affair. That’s rubbish!

You have been linked to stars like Renee Zellweger.
Nonsense. We’ve known each other for a long time and became close friends over the years.

Are friendships more important than love?
No, even though friendships last longer than love, as a rule. I’m lucky to have a handful of very good friends with whom I’ve gone through quite a lot of hard times.

What do you do together?
There’s nothing greater than having a few beers with friends or playing basketball or poker.

They often accompany you to your house in Lake Como, Italy.
That’s my retirement home. Every year I spend some time there with my friends. We go on motorcyle tours.

Do they ask you for advice?
Mostly the usual stuff. What does it take to appeal to women?

What’s your reply?
I can only talk about my own experiences. With me, it’s the hair. If you have beautiful and strong hair, then you’re successful with women.

So you wouldn’t be sexy bald?
In the case of hair loss, it’s all over.

How long does it take you to get dressed?
I spend at least three or four hours a day in the bathroom. Being sexy day and night is a big responsibility. And I like taking it!