George Clooney has "rediscovered" his love of acting.

The 64-year-old actor feels he's recently emerged from an unsatisfying spell in his career, having taken on some relatively easy film roles.

He told Variety: "I got my groove back as an actor.

"I rediscovered why I love this profession. It's not that I wasn't challenging myself on my last few films, but I knew how to play those parts."

By contrast, George relished the challenge of playing a movie star past his matinee idol prime in Jay Kelly.

He said: "With this one, I felt like I did when I started acting and was trying to figure it out. You're thinking, 'Am I a fraud? Am I going to be found out?' It's a really good place to be, to feel off your game."

George initially felt that Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote and directed the film, had misjudged him. But ultimately, George relished starring in the new movie.

He said: "I read the script, and there was a part of me that went, 'Does he think this is who I am?'

"Because I knew Noah a little bit, and this character's deeply unhappy and kind of a jerk. But then I thought it might be fun to play someone who thinks he's a good guy, but everything he touches, he destroys."

Meanwhile, George previously claimed that he's been the "recipient of a lot of luck" in his life.

The actor told AARP: "I think the only life lesson is to bet on yourself. And when there's opportunities, you gotta go.

"In my life, I have been the recipient of a lot of luck. But I also believe you create opportunity for luck. You create enough opportunity and, every once in a while, you'll hit one."

George also strives to live a "really full life", instead of worrying about potential problems.

The movie star said: "There's no rhyme or reason for who gets to age and who doesn't. So you should live as if you're not going to get to. And then, if you wake up one day and you're old, you've lived a really full life."