While many know what an incredible prankster George Clooney is, he is also an incredibly generous man. Known for his many generous feats, including giving 14 of his closest friends a million each from the paycheck of his hit film Gravity, Clooney is one of the nicest actors in the world.
In a recent interview, Oscar-winning star Viola Davis shared another instance of the Ocean Eleven star’s generosity. Talking to PEOPLE, the actress shared how Clooney let her and her husband use his then-newly purchased Italian villa for their honeymoon and nearly made them cry with his kindness.
When George Clooney let Viola Davis Use His Villa for Honeymoon
Viola Davis and George Clooney are good friends and have worked together in over three movies— Solaris, Out of Sight, and Syriana. And thanks to these collaborations, the two share an amazing bond today.
Recently for PEOPLE’s 50th-anniversary special issue, Davis sat down for a chat and revealed how Clooney’s kindness changed her perception of Hollywood. Davis married actor and producer Julius Tennon in 2003, and Clooney offered the newlyweds his $100 million Lake Como villa for their honeymoon.
“As a matter of fact, I called him and I said, ‘So when can we come?'”
When they finally reached Italy, they were floored by the 22-room villa (see Entertainment Weekly) as well as Clooney’s generosity.
“It was the first time that I remember thinking to myself that it redefined how I saw Hollywood. I always thought, ‘Everyone is fake. No one really means it when they’re nice to you.'”
Her Solaris co-star, however, proved her wrong by showing that despite wealth and acclaim, people can still be down-to-earth and generous.
“It’s like the first time that someone blew the lid off of that in his generosity. Julius and I still talk about that.”
Surrounded by the Swiss Alps, it was one of the best vacations the actress ever had. Not only were they served four or five-course meals a day, but the experience left them with teary eyes, hardly being able to believe that someone like George Clooney could be so generous.
When George Clooney Gave His Friends a Million Each After His Movie
George Clooney is married to an international humanitarian rights lawyer, Amal Alamuddin, and is known for often using his voice for issues that matter. But at the same time, he is humble, kind, and generous, a trait that not many celebrities might have.
Apart from his kind gesture towards his co-star and friend Viola Davis, the actor once also famously handed out a million dollars each to 14 of his best friends. In an interview with GQ, the actor revealed that it was 2013 and he had just worked in Gravity.
Not expecting it to be a big success, the actors were slated to be given a percentage of the movie as salary. A single man back then, he had no idea that he would even have a family. But he did have some incredible friends who had been with him for 35 years, through thick and thin.
Packing a million each in a Tumi bag, the actor gave his closest friends a bag each as a thank-you gesture. From letting his friends use his newly purchased Italian villa for their honeymoon to giving each of his closest friends a million dollars, George Clooney has shown that he is not only a talented actor but also a true friend.
