Hollywood star George Clooney has played down talk he is the favourite to win Best Actor at the 2012 Oscars for his role as a father attempting to reconnect with his children, in 'The Descendants'. The actor picked up to the top honour at the Hollywood Film Awards this week, but shrugged off talk of an Oscar.
Speaking at a press conference in London, the 50-year-old told press, including Abs-cbn Europe, he had learnt to pay little attention to hype, saying, "I've been on both sides of that equation a few times now, and what I have learnt about it is whenever someone says that, they're complimenting the work and for that you say thank you". Clooney is the 15/8 favourite to scoop the Best Actor award with UK bookmaker William Hill, but he explained, "I don't remember who wins awards. I've won one, or a few, but what I remember are movies. I really love movies". In fact, the actor won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for Syriana, while also receiving numerous BAFTA, Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. He is currently stars alongside Ryan Gosling in the political thriller 'The Ides of March', but it's his performance in The Descendants that's winning George the plaudits. The movie, by Sideways director Alexander Payne, follows a land baron whose wife suffers a boating accident, leaving him to take care of their two daughters.
Despite being the overwhelming favourite to land the Oscar, Clooney will no doubt face competition from the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio, who stars in Clint Eastwood's 'J Edgar' and Brad Pitt for 'Moneyball'.