Why George Clooney Calls Smoking the 'Hardest Part' of His Broadway Debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

One aspect of George Clooney's Broadway debut that he finds particularly difficult is the prop cigarettes he smokes on stage all the time.  Clooney discussed his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in the stage version of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ during his appearance on the recent episode of ‘60 Minutes’.  He acknowledged that it has been difficult to smoke so much during rehearsals, particularly considering his personal experience with the risks associated with smoking.  Lung cancer claimed the lives of several members of Clooney's family, including his aunt Rosemary.  He was up among tobacco farmers in Kentucky, so he was always acutely aware of the dangers of smoking.

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Clooney attributes his longevity to his father's decision to abstain from smoking, who is now 91 years old.  Despite having directed the 2005 movie adaptation of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’, Clooney intends to utilise herbal cigarettes on stage this time.  He stated in an interview with The New York Times that he needed to get better at breathing for the part.  This part of the job was emotionally meaningful because he also disclosed that eight of his aunts and uncles had passed away from lung cancer.

' Good Night and Good Luck chronicles Murrow's conflict with Senator Joseph McCarthy amid the height of Cold War paranoia.’ When asked if he regretted not performing on Broadway earlier in his career, Clooney said that he probably wasn't prepared for the challenge back then. The Winter Garden Theatre in New York City will host the play's official opening on 3rd April.

–Farheen Ali