Drew Barrymore reveals best advice George Clooney gave her that changed her as an actress

Drew Barrymore shares what she learned from working with George Clooney on a movie set.

During a new episode of The Drew Barrymore Showthe actress and talk show host spoke with Callum Turner, who starred in the biographical sports drama The Boys In The Boat (2023), a film that Clooney directed.

Recalling her time directing Clooney in Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002), his directorial debut, the presenter revealed how she “loved working with him” and that “he saved me from doing things that I didn’t think served me . as an actor.’

When Turner and his new Masters Of The Air co-star Austin Butler were pressed to share what those “things” were that weren’t serving her acting, Barrymore opened up about a particular moment when Clooney pulled her aside to offer some advice about the craft of acting.

‘He would say, “You never maintain eye contact with people in a scene,” prompting her to clarify her reasoning for avoiding the eyes. “I’m like, ‘Well, because it’s so intimate. Should we kiss while we’re at it?’ For example, eye contact is insane.”

Drew Barrymore revealed a lesson she learned from George Clooney about making eye contact while filming a scene while hosting a new episode of The Drew Barrymore Show

“Look, now I feel pressure not to take my eyes off you right now,” Turner, 33, said during his appearance on the talk show, gesturing to her eyes with his hands.

Butler, who is best known for his portrayal of the King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll in Elvis, also agreed with his assessment of the moment.

“It’s very important in life, eye contact,” 48-year-old Barrymore responded. “I almost feel like it’s a bit invasive and so I shy away from it a bit, but George helped me realize that I shouldn’t do that.”

Both Turner and Butler nodded in agreement with her assessment of eye contact between people.

Turner’s experience working with Clooney at the helm of The Boys In The Boat came during his final film shoot which also featured Joel Edgerton, Peter Guinness, Jack Mulhern, James Wolk, Hadley Robinson and Courtney Henggeler.

The film follows the University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

Since its widespread release on Christmas 2023 and subsequent mixed reviews from critics, the film has grossed $49 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $40 million.

“It’s a really big deal in life, eye contact,” Barrymore added. “I almost feel like it’s a bit invasive and so I shy away from it a bit, but George helped me realize that I shouldn’t do that.”

Barrymore says George Clooney told her, “You never keep eye contact with people in a scene,” prompting her to clarify the comment. “I’m like, ‘Well, because it’s so intimate. Should we kiss while we’re at it?’ For example, eye contact is insane’; Clooney is pictured with Callum Turner, who worked together on biographical sports drama The Boys In The Boat

Barrymore’s experience with Clooney came when she starred in his biographical spy film Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, written by Charlie Kaufman.

The film, which depicted the fictional life of game show host and producer Chuck Barris, also starred Sam Rockwell, Julia Roberts, Rutger Hauer and Clooney himself.

Although it received a positive response from critics, fan attendance was lukewarm, ultimately grossing $33.1 million at the worldwide box office, which essentially covered its $30 million in production costs.

Barrymore got Clooney’s advice when she co-starred with him and Sam Rockwell in Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, which was also Clooney’s directorial debut

The screenplay was based on Barris’s 1984 “unauthorized autobiography” of the same name, in which he claimed to have been an assassin for the CIA in addition to his career in show business, something the CIA has since disputed.

Turner and Butler’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show was part of their promotion for the war drama miniseries Masters Of The Air, created by John Shiban and John Orloff.

The two stars are part of a cast that also includes Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, Nikolai Kinski, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sawyer Spielberg, Isabel May and James Murray.

Masters Of The Air premiered on Apple TV+ on January 26, 2024.