Mark Wahlberg shared the screen with George Clooney in the 2000 action-adventure film The Perfect Storm. In a recent interview, the actor recalled an unexpected and humorous story about the time when his mother visited him on the set of the film.
The actor recalled how his late mother was quite taken with the charming Oscar winner and even believed that they had a genuine connection, admitting that he would not have minded Clooney becoming his stepfather.
Mark Wahlberg Recalled George Clooney And His Mother’s Charming Encounter
During a recent interview with Variety, Mark Wahlberg recounted a humorous encounter between his mother, and co-star George Clooney from the set of his 2000 film The Perfect Storm.
The actor shared that his mother, Alma Wahlberg, was thrilled to meet George Clooney and got a picture with him. “She had it on her wall,” he shared before adding, “I think she liked that picture more than she liked the picture of her own kids.”
The actor also revealed that his mother was convinced that the Ocean’s Eleven star was totally flirting with her, but she responded by saying, “I couldn’t.” Wahlberg recalled, playfully mimicking his mother,
[She was like,] ‘Oh, he likes me a lot. He loves me a lot. He told me he wants to go out with me. I told him I couldn’t.
While The Fighter star initially expressed skepticism about her beliefs, he still playfully encouraged her to pursue his co-star, joking that he would love to have Clooney as his stepfather.
“I said, ‘Well, f*ck it, have a baby with him! I want a little brother,” he recalled before, playfully admitting, “George can be my stepfather. It’s all good.”
However, the two never got together. Wahlberg’s parents, Alma Wahlberg and Donald Edmond Wahlberg Sr. reportedly separated in 1982 and it’s unclear if his mother ever remarried. She passed away in April 2021, at the age of 78.
Mark Wahlberg Reflected on Immersive Experience in The Perfect Storm
During his interview with Variety, Mark Wahlberg also reflected on his time starring in The Perfect Storm. Based on the book of the same name, the film follows the harrowing true story of a fishing crew caught in a massive, deadly storm in the North Atlantic.
“I remember the entire film,” The Union star said, sharing his experience working on the movie and the meaningful and immersive process of preparing for his role. He shared during the interview,
I remember living at the Crow’s Nest and spending time with the Shatford family and going fishing with my character’s brother and really trying to immerse myself in that world but also paying the kind of respect.
Emphasizing the importance of honoring the people involved in the tragic event that inspired the movie, the actor shared that he wanted to respect their memory through the movie.
“I felt was necessary to the people and ensuring to them that what our intentions were,” he said before adding, “That we were trying to make something that would honor their loved one’s memory.”
Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was a box office hit, grossing $328 million worldwide. The Perfect Storm also earned two Oscar nominations for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects at the 73rd Academy Awards.
The Perfect Storm is available to watch on Paramount+.
