Tuesday, 26 September 2006

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George Clooney: I won't run for office

Actor denies he's standing for US government

Although he's spoken at the U.N. and rubbed shoulders with senators, George Clooney on Monday downplayed suggestions that he might run for office himself.

"Believe me, you don't want me in politics," Clooney, 45, told reporters after an event where California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to help stop the atrocities in Darfur, the Associated Press reports.

Told that fans have been wearing "George Clooney 2008" t-shirts, he said, "I think they're probably kidding."

When pressed about whether he'd run, he said, "That's a bad idea."

Clooney pointed out that he and Schwarzenegger had costarred in 1997's Batman & Robin – Clooney played the hero while Schwarzenegger played the bad guy, Mr. Freeze. "He's gone on to be governor, and I still think I'm Batman," Clooney joked.

The Syriana star has been deeply involved with the Darfur issue, appearing at the United Nations this month to press the Security Council to help stop the genocidal killings there.

His crusade began in April when he and his father, retired newsman Nick Clooney, spent five days in the Sudanese region filming interviews with refugees.