Hollywood’s glossy facade rarely cracks to reveal genuine moments of parental wisdom. Yet there’s something remarkably different about the recent sit-down between Julia Roberts and George Clooney in 72 Magazine’s debut issue. Perhaps it’s the way they slouch comfortably in their chairs, or how their laughter punctuates even the serious moments — but this isn’t your typical celebrity puff piece.
The conversation meanders naturally, touching on everything from their kids’ latest adventures to the peculiar challenge of explaining fame to an 8-year-old. “My friend’s mom said you’re famous,” Clooney’s son had announced one day. The actor’s response? Classic Clooney: “Well, tell her I’m very famous!”
Between sips of what’s probably ridiculously expensive coffee (though neither star mentions it), Roberts and Clooney navigate the tricky waters of raising kids in the spotlight. Their chat feels worlds away from those stiff, staged White House photos of yesteryear — you know, the ones where Elvis awkwardly posed with Nixon, both looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.
Roberts, whose twins Hazel and Phinnaeus just hit 20 (feel old yet?), drops what might be the most refreshing parenting advice heard from a celebrity in ages. “Do not be afraid,” she says, leaning forward. “They don’t wake up as monsters one day. They don’t turn 13 and hate you. They don’t turn 16 and hate you. You just have to hang in there and things shift and then the boat rights itself again.”
The timing of this conversation feels particularly relevant as we head into 2025, when social media’s grip on celebrity culture seems tighter than ever. Gone are the days when stars could simply avoid the paparazzi by ducking into their favorite restaurant’s back door. Now, every parent with a smartphone is potentially documenting their kids’ brush with fame.
Roberts — who’s generating Oscar buzz for her upcoming psychological drama “After the Hunt” — seems more invested in discussing her role as a mother than her latest screen performance. “It’s such a magnificent thing to be part of this family,” she reflects, and you can almost hear the pride drowning out two decades’ worth of Academy Award applause.
Their conversation drifts between light-hearted moments and deeper reflections, much like any chat between old friends who happen to have five kids between them. The authenticity hits harder when you remember these are two people who’ve weathered every Hollywood storm imaginable since the ’90s.
Sometimes, the most profound truths come wrapped in the simplest packages. As Roberts and Clooney demonstrate, maybe the secret to celebrity parenting isn’t so different from regular parenting after all — it just comes with a few more cameras and considerably more expensive coffee.
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