George Clooney made the leap from network TV hunk to legitimate A-list movie star back in the late ’90s, when making that transition was akin to moving from… let’s say reality TV host to President of the free world.

In other words, it was a crazy maneuver nobody expected him to land, but since Clooney made the shift, he has worked alongside some of Hollywood’s finest actors ever — we’re talking Clint Eastwood, Frances McDormand, Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts; the list is endless (not in a literal way, mind). 

In a recent interview at Venice Film Festival to promote his new film Suburbicon, Clooney told Entertainment Tonight that he considers Matt Damon to be the very best he has ever worked with. In fact, the best he’s ever seen.

“Matt’s the greatest actor I’ve ever worked with,” he claimed. “In fact, I don’t know a better actor I’ve seen in my life. I’m trying to think if there’s a better actor. Nope, there’s not a better actor. No, there is not.”

Now, it must be stressed that this happened during a promotional junket for Clooney new directorial effort, which happens to star Damon. The “greatest actor” was also sitting next to him during the exchange, so it’s safe to say this can be taken with more than a grain of salt.

Still, it’s high praise for Damon, and a slap in the face to a number of high-profile actors.

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